NDTV: Uproar over killing of dogs in Karnataka

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Link: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070006927

 

Uproar over killing of dogs in Karnataka

 

Maya Sharma

Monday, March 26, 2007 (Bangalore)

There has been a widespread sense of horror at the random killings of

healthy street dogs in the smaller towns of Karnataka.

 

The move is believed to be a reaction to the tragic deaths this year

of two young children in Bangalore who were attacked by packs of

street dogs.

 

The killing of healthy dogs in this manner is illegal. They need to be

first examined by a vet and only if found sick or violent can they be

euthanised.

 

But nobody is admitting to having ordered these killings.

 

In Mandya, healthy dogs were caught roughly and killed with injections

on the spot. Far from being violent some of the dogs were frantically

wagging their tails at the people who were killing them.

 

NDTV eye-witness Savita Nagbhushan captured the gruesome images on her

camera.

 

Cruelty continues

 

Same is happening in Anekal where again dozens of apparently healthy

and non-violent dogs were injected on the streets with what was

probably cyanide with out identifying the sick or violent animals.

 

The Municipal Commissioner of Mandya, Ramaswamy, once again reiterated

that he had not ordered the killings. He says it was the work of

anti-social elements.

 

Health Minister, R Ashok, who soon after the death of the two children

called for all violent dogs to be killed, has now distanced himself

from the whole issue and says it has nothing to do with his ministry.

 

" Some municipalities have decided to limit dog population. We are not

telling them to kill the dogs, " said R Srinivas, Minister, Municipal

Admin.

 

" There is no order to kill them, only catch them. We would not benefit

from killing the dogs. The difficulty faced by ordinary citizens needs

to be addressed, " he said.

 

The men doing the actual killing said they were asked to do so by

municipal authorities.

 

But with nobody admitting to giving the order there is obviously no

action being taken against those responsible.

 

The reality at the end of the day is the pile of dead bodies of

animals which have been illegally killed.