BMP launches ‘Operation dog hunt’

BMP launches ‘Operation dog hunt’
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) launched “Operation dog hunt” on Saturday night to capture and kill ferocious and diseased dogs across the City.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) launched “Operation dog hunt” on Saturday night to capture and kill ferocious and diseased dogs across the City.

The night drive – a fallout of the death of Sridevi, 8, after being mauled by stray dogs on Friday – was kicked off at Dasappa Hospital near Town Hall at 9 pm, and led by Deputy Commissioner of Health Manu Baligar.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister R Ashok handed over a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to the victim’s parents.

“Special squads will catch and euthanise dogs that are found to have a tendency to bite. BMP health officials have been directed to act quickly on citizen complaints of dog menace,” he added.

“The magnitude of the stray dog menace is still huge. We suspect there are 70,880 stray dogs (5,800 have been killed) and another 25,000 sterilised. We need to take some hard decisions, but our hands are tied as there is a Supreme Court ruling against merciless killing of stray dogs,” he added.

The BMP commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The inquiry will be conducted by Joint Commissioner (South), who will probe the case on the lines of eye witnesses’ account, muster-rolls of garbage clearance in the area, illegal meat shops and the aggression exhibited by dogs, which experts believe is unnatural.

Dogs and humans don’t share a natural predator-prey relationship.

Meanwhile, animal rights’ activists have warned the BMP against “knee-jerk reaction” of mass killing of dogs.

Citizens can report on dog menace on the helpline - 22224541