Bengaluru: A tragic incident has rocked the city, even as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) considers a controversial proposal to feed stray dogs with ‘chicken rice’ meals. A 68-year-old man, Seethappa, was brutally killed by a pack of stray dogs during his morning walk in Kodigehalli’s Telecom Layout on Monday.
Around 4 am, Seethappa stepped out of his house wrapped in a blanket due to the cold. Just outside his home, he was attacked by a pack of 8 to 10 stray dogs. The attack was savage — the dogs ripped off flesh from his arms, legs, and even parts of his face. Neighbours and family members rushed to intervene but were also chased away by the aggressive pack. When the dogs finally retreated, Seethappa was taken to a hospital in Yelahanka, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The BBMP has announced a compensation of ₹1 lakh for the bereaved family. BBMP Special Commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore stated this is the maximum permissible amount as per civic guidelines.
Meanwhile, the civic body has been mulling over a controversial plan to feed nearly 5,000 stray dogs in Bengaluru with daily chicken rice meals. The proposed budget for this initiative is ₹2.2 crore annually, at ₹22 per meal. Proponents argued that feeding the dogs would reduce aggression, but critics pointed out that poor waste disposal near meat shops was the real issue behind the growing stray population. The plan is currently stalled amid public backlash.