Stray dogs kill two more kids in Sitapur

LUCKNOW: The canine scare of Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh continues, with two more children, aged 7 and 10, being killed in attacks by dog packs in two villages on Friday morning.

Two more children were severely injured in attacks in other villages, all within a span of two hours.

On May 1, stray dogs had killed three children, aged 11 and 12, in separate incidents at Tikaria, Gurpulia and Kholia villages of Khairabad area of Sitapur. Friday’s attacks were reported in Mahsinghpur, Budhanpur, Chaubeypur and Peerpur villages, all in the same area — about 18 kilometres from the previously mentioned villages.

Locals claim that around 17 children have been killed so far. The police however put the toll at 11, including Friday’s deaths.

FRIDAY’S ATTACKS WERE REPORTED IN MAHSINGHPUR, BUDHANPUR, CHAUBEYPUR AND PEERPUR VILLAGES

The dogs are believed to have turned violent in recent months after slaughter houses in the area, which used to be the main source of food for them, were closed down or shifted.

The dogs, around 100 of them, run free in a radius of around 20 km from Khairabad and Sitapur Kotwali, nearly 80 km northwest of Lucknow, residents say. The incident took place at a time when district authorities and a four-member team of dog catchers were combing the villages.

Villagers had subsequently killed some dogs in the area and threatened to launch a mass agitation over failure of district administration to curb the menace.

Sitapur city magistrate Harsh Dev Pandey said the team had been rushed to the villages where fresh attacks occurred.

“All the children were attacked when they were alone. The villagers rushed to rescue the children after hearing their screams but failed to save their lives,” he said.