When the Kerala government decided to cull stray dogs, due to the increasing threat they posed to human lives, animal rights campaigners were up in arms against the state. Faced with criticism, the government was forced to drop the plan.

This has however led to an increase in the number of stray dogs and dog attacks across the state.

The latest victim of stray dogs was a 65-year-old woman, who was attacked and partly eaten by 50 stray dogs on Friday night in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram.

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The victim, Sheeluamma, died in the Medical College hospital. Angry relatives and residents of the area have blamed the city authority for her death.

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"We have lost all our patience as the authorities are hanging on to some obscure law which says dogs cannot be eliminated. Are we inferior to these dogs," asked a group of angry residents in Pulluvilla.

The incident took place around 9 p.m. in the coastal village Pulluvilla about 30 minutes from the state capital when Sheeluamma went to the seafront to use a toilet there.

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Her son witnessed her being torn up by the hungry canines when he came searching for her. He had to dive into the sea to save himself from the dogs.

An hour later after Sheeluamma's death, another 50-year-old, Daisy was attacked by a group of dogs in a nearby locality on the seafront.