`Apathy' irks residents

`Apathy' irks residents
The Hindu

BANGALORE: Residents of Chandra Layout, where the dog menace is acute, are worried over the "callous attitude" of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) towards checking it.

Following two recent dog-bite cases in the area — Vishnu (4) and Akram (34) — residents alleged that the BMP had not taken the matter seriously even after repeated instances of brutal attacks by dogs. Vishnu was attacked by stray dogs in the second stage of BCC Layout, where eight-year-old Sridevi was mauled to death recently.

According to the victim's father, G. Srinivas, Vishnu was attacked by two stray dogs near their house on Wednesday night. "He has sustained deep cuts on his arms, shoulders and back. I can afford to get my son treated at the best private hospital. But what about seven-year old Gowramma, who was attacked last week? Her parents are poor construction workers. I urge the Government and BMP to pay compensation to such poor victims," he said. Blaming the BMP for not being able to control the menace, Mr. Srinivas said: "If the authorities really wish, they can control the problem in two days. All that they have been doing is catching the dogs and leaving them back in the same area," he said.

BMP Deputy Commissioner (Health) Manu P. Baligar said the BMP was doing its best to check the menace.