Member of Parliament Kupendra Reddy was allegedly attacked by stray dogs in Sector 1, prompting the BBMP to impound seven dogs in the Koramangala animal shelter. Fearing that the dogs could be relocated or killed, animal activists rushed to the shelter and have filed a case against the BBMP in the Koramangala police station, and are demanding their release.
Representation purpose only
The incident happened yesterday morning (October 11) when the senior politician was on his morning walk. The four stray dogs that Sundara Rama Reddy (84 years) keeps in his house ran out when the gate was left ajar by the servant. One of them allegedly attacked Kupendra Reddy, prompting him to immediately lodge a complaint with the BBMP who rushed to the place and impounded seven dogs. “They are all sterilised dogs,” said Ravikumar of the Animal Husbandry Department, BBMP (Bommanahalli). “We will keep them under observation at the Koramangala dog pound and see if anyone has rabies. If someone has that disease, the dog dies on his own.”
The BBMP officials say that they are following the Supreme Court ruling and will release the dogs back to where they picked them up from. But the residents don’t want them back because of this attack incident. The animal activists fear that the dogs could be killed or relocated because of political pressure, and are demanding their release. However, the BBMP is quite categorical. They will keep the dogs under observation and let the rabies-infected dog die on his own, while the rest will be left back on 14th main, 21st Cross, Sector 1.
The problem is more compounded as an FIR has been lodged by the BBMP against the stray dog caretaker. “He’s feeding 20-30 street dogs who form packs and attack people, according to the residents,” said one official. “The residents are scared and want them to be relocated but we can’t help it as we are bound by the Supreme Court order.”