LUCKNOW: Probably for the first time in canine history , four persons were killed and four others critically injured over the bowel movements of a pet dog .

Nations may have gone to war for frivolous reasons, but two families in Dudwa village of UP's Baghpat district whipped out guns and sharp weapons and shot and stabbed each other as a pet dog of one of the families chose to defecate as usual in front of the neighbour's door. Till reports last came in, the dog was reported to be alive and well,

One Dharam Singh’s pet dog had pooped in front of neighbour Yogendra’s house. Earlier too, Yogendra had objected to the dog’s habit of relieving himself in front of the house. On Wednesday, the two families had argument and then an exchange of blows over the matter.

Soon, both the sides pulled out guns and sharp-edged weapons, and a free-for-all ensued in which eight people were injured.

By the time other neighbours could intervene, the two sides had fired at each other, fatally injuring Dharam Singh’s wife Nirmala and nephews Pravesh and Brijendra. Yogendra suffered stab and gunshot wounds. Four others, belonging to the two sides, suffered minor injuries.

The injured were taken to the Baghpat CHC about half an hour away from the village. Brijendra died before he could reach the hospital. Nirmala, Pravesh and Yogendra were allegedly left unattended at the CHC for over two hours since there was no one to attend to them. By the time the doctor on duty arrived, it was too late to save them.

Because of the delay on the part of the police in responding to the SOS from the two sides, the Baghpat police chief suspended an inspector, two SIs and a constable.

SP Baghpat Laxmi Singh said though Dharam Singh’s cousin Brijendra had suffered fatal injuries, the remaining three died due to excessive bleeding since they were left unattended at the CHC for almost two hours. “I have written a letter to the district magistrate to initiate action against those responsible for the state of affairs at the CHC because had they been in place at least three of the victims could have been saved,” Laxmi Singh said.