Stray dog mauls sleeping child at Kottakkal

A surge in stray dog attacks on children within Kottakkal municipality culminated in a flashpoint when a dog intruded into a house and mauled a child sleeping indoors on Tuesday.

The eight-year-old boy sustained wounds on his feet and was transferred from Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Kottakkal, to Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.

Several children were bitten by dogs in recent weeks at Kottakkal. K.M. Swalih, whose child was attacked a few weeks ago, staged a single-man dharna in front of the municipal office at Kottakkal the other day, protesting against the apathetic attitude of the municipal authorities.

“I approached several authorities seeking justice for my child, who became a victim of stray dog attack like several other children. But the authorities have been turning a blind eye to the issue,” said Mr. Swalih.

He sat on a dharna in front of the municipal office when the municipal secretary ignored his complaint. Inaugurating the dharna, lawyer and rights activist P.A. Pouran warned the civic officials and the district administration against the dangers of ignoring people’s woes.