Pack of dogs kill woman in Kerala

 A 64-year-old woman was mauled by a pack of stray dogs in the coastal village of Pulluvila near here late on Friday night.

The incident has opened another round of debate on the effectiveness of measures taken to control stray dog menace in the state.

The victim, Siluvamma, a resident of Chembakaraman Thura, had stepped on to the beach when the dogs, numbered  around 50, according to eye witnesses, attacked her.

Siluvamma’s son Selvaraj,  who went looking for her on the beach, saw his mother being attacked. But attempts to rescue her failed.

“I could see more dogs running in to join the pack,” Selvaraj told reporters. He then jumped into the sea to escape.

Later, residents of the area managed to drive the dogs away and tried shifting Siluvamma to a hospital, but she died on the way. Parts of her arms and legs were bitten off by the dogs.

Residents said more dogs were coming into the area to feed on large pieces of raw meat waste and leftover food that was being dumped in some parts of the neighbourhood.  Some women complained that they, like Siluvamma, had no choice but to risk attacks from stray dogs on the beaches which they use as toilets. The women said they were planning a protest against the authorities who failed to check the menace, despite repeated attacks.

Siluvamma’s funeral was marked by protests. The neighbourhood remained tense till the government announced compensation for the victim’s family.

Another woman resident was attacked by a group of stray dogs late on Friday night. Her condition is stable. 

Rights panel seeks report

The State Human Rights Commission chairman Justice J B Koshy sought a report on the implementation of animal birth control measures from the chief secretary and Local Self-government Department secretary, reports DHNS from Thiruvananthapuram.