Sitapur (UP): A pack of dogs mauled a 12-year-old girl to death in a village in Sitapur on Sunday morning, taking the toll in fatal attacks by feral hounds in the district to 13 in the last six months, the police said.
The incident took place in Maheshpur Village under the Khairabad police station.
"A 12-year-old girl identified as Reena died after being attacked by a pack of dogs," Superintendent of police Anand Kulkarni told PTI.
This was the seventh such death this month, the police said. Kulkarni said the administration was tackling the menace and the number of dogs in packs was decreasing.
"Earlier they used to attack in pack of six to eight dogs. Now they are reduced to two or four," he said.
Post this incident, the agitated family members of Reena staged protest along with other villagers, by blocking the national highway. The family members wanted assurance from district administration and police to stop the menace before they finally agreed to do the last rites of the deceased.
On Friday, UP CM Yogi Adityanath visted the families of the children who have recently lost their lives in attacks by canines and also announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the victims' kin.
Addressing the media, District Magistrate, Sitapur, Sheetal Verma said, “The 12-year-old was attacked by a pack of seven dogs when she was going to the fields alone at around 7 am on Sunday. The girl died on the spot. I have asked senior administrative officials to visit the village and meet the girl’s family.”
Animal rights activists have suggested that the administration should ensure that there is no "illegal extermination" of the canines as this would only "worsen" the situation and lead to more conflict.
Gauri Maulekhi, member of the Uttar Pradesh Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee, has shot off a letter to the state chief secretary to ensure that the local administration "actively" informs the people about the scientific and legal steps that are being taken by the government and "discourage" them from taking law into their hands.
Maulekhi blamed the local municipal body for "knee-jerk" reactions to deal with street dogs, which she said will lead to more conflict and bites and spread of disease in the long run.
"Instead of making any effort to implement the mandatory animal birth control programme to curb the population of dogs and decrease man-animal conflict, the district administration is giving irresponsible statements leading to wanton killing of animals in Sitapur.
"May I please request you to issue necessary instructions to seek compliance reports from the 16 municipal corporations, with regard to the minutes of the Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee, dated 06.09.2018," she wrote.
She also said that people should be informed about the scientific and legal steps that are being taken by the government and discouraged from taking law into their hands.
"Ensure that no steps for illegal extermination of dogs is being taken by the district administration or the municipal corporation," she suggested.
According to her, the Supreme Court had ordered the implementation of the Animal Birth Control Dog Rules, 2001 for population management and rabies eradication.
The rules also prescribe the obligations of the local authorities governments with respect to capturing, sterilisation, immunisation and release of dogs to control their population, she said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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