BENGALURU: The Karnataka Lokayukta summoned officials from the Animal Husbandry Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for a personal appearance on Friday, following a tragic dog bite incident at the Air Force Campus in Jalahalli that led to the death of a 76-year-old woman. The Lokayukta’s office revealed that a suo motu case was filed in the public interest on Wednesday regarding the incident.
The Zonal Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, and Assistant Director of the BBMP’s Animal Husbandry Department were instructed to appear before the Lokayukta. They have been directed to implement preventive measures to avoid future occurrences of such incidents. Additionally, BBMP has been asked to devise an action plan detailing the steps to manage the street dog population effectively to prevent similar tragedies.
The Lokayukta emphasized that this is not the first case involving street dogs causing harm in the city. Past incidents have prompted victims to seek redress from the High Court. During the meeting, there was also discussion about possibly involving the Veterinary College in Hebbal to develop a comprehensive solution for the street dog issue. BBMP officials have been requested to provide details on the number of Animal Birth Control surgeries conducted over the past year and to explore the option of housing habitual biters in a shelter environment.
City-based animal welfare workers have advocated for the establishment of a rehabilitation center for street dogs with a history of aggressive behavior. They suggest that BBMP consider investing in a facility to assess and rehabilitate such dogs, ensuring a safer environment for both humans and animals.
In response to the incident, 18 dogs have been captured from the Air Force Campus. The autopsy report is awaited to determine the cause of death, and all captured dogs are currently under observation. They will also be neutered and vaccinated as part of ongoing measures.
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