Picture used for representational purpose only

BIJNOR: After several cases of dog bite were reported from Bijnor, Amroha is the latest town in the district to be hit by dog attacks. District hospital officials reported several cases of dog bites, laying the blame squarely on failure of the municipality in taking remedial steps.

In a single day on Friday, two cases of dog bites were reported from the town itself. In the first case, stray dogs mauled Manzoor Ahmed at Sarai Kohana mohalla. He was referred to Meerut hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. In the second incident, a stray dog attacked and badly wounded a doctor with a private practice near the Jama mosque. He is recuperating in Amroha hospital.

Amroha native Momin Qureshi said, “Six people have been attacked by stray dogs in the city in the last five days. We’ve informed the municipal authority about the matter, but they are not heeding our grievances.”

Last month, a girl and an old man were killed by dogs which also left several people injured in Bijnor, after which the municipal corporation began a drive to capture strays. Five days ago, a stray attacked and badly mauled six-year-old Heena in Seohara, Bijnor. She was admitted in Bijnor hospital, but was later referred to Meerut, where she is undergoing treatment.

In total, stray dogs have claimed six lives in Bijnor in the recent past. The most affected area is Mukeempur Dharmsi village, around 7km from Bijnor district headquarters, where three people, including a woman, have been mauled to death, with one of them, Shahid partially eaten by the canines.

In a separate attack, a six-year-old girl, Ashiya of Lallawala under Kotwali Dehat police station, was mauled by strays in farmlands where she had gone with her grandfather. The news spread panic among farmers, after which, the district administration imposed Section 144 to quell the unrest as the administration feared it could lead to mob agitation.

The administration then called a team of experts to catch and treat stray dogs, who reportedly have carried out a drive.

