Days after woman mauled, Kapurthala DC forms 5-member panel to resolve stray dog menace

Aparna Banerji

Kapurthala, February 8

The mauling of 32-year-old Ram Pari in the fields near the ‘hadda rori’ (dumping site for animal carcass) at Passan Kadim village in the district has made the adminstration form a five-member committee to resolve the stray dog menace.

Was unaware of menace

It is for the first time after the incident that the stray dog problem in these villages has come to my notice. The problem was first reported to me yesterday after the death of Ram Pari, a woman. Amit Panchal, DC

The neighbouring panchayats also raised similar problems in their areas. Pointing out the absolute neglect by the administration in handling the stray dog menace, panchayats of Passan Kadim, Chuhrpur, Doda Wajid, Chuladdha, Lomriwal, Jhanduwala and Nabipur told the district administration that if the stray dog menace was not handled immediately, they would be forced to initiate action. They also told the administration that they would start ‘thikri pehras’ in their villages to keep the stray dogs at bay.

Kapurthala DC Amit Panchal said, “A five-member committee has been formed to tackle the menace. Keeping in mind the tragic incident, sarpanches have also been made members of the committee so that effective solution is devised to the problem at the earliest.”

Baljinder Singh, member of Chuhrpur panchayat, said, “The DC has assured us that dogs from the area will be taken to a shelter home at Amritsar soon. We are looking forward to this as these dogs have terrorised the area.”

Nishan Singh, former sarpanch of the village said, “This has been the second death. A child also died within a fortnight. Things have worsened since then. ” Meanwhile, the victim was cremated.

SDM Jaspreet Singh confirmed that a Kapurthala NGO would send 15 dogs from Passan Kadim to an animal shelter.