Srinagar, Mar 22: With the government reluctant to eliminate stray dogs whose population has assumed alarming proportions, the canine attacks seem to have furthered in the City as in the latest over a dozen people were bitten in Nowhatta area of Shahr-e-Khaas, the locals and witnesses Tuesday said.
 The Nowhatta residents said the stray dogs on prowl near Gate No 2 of Jamia Masjid have unleashed a reign of terror there by attacking over a dozen people, mostly children in the past few days.
 “The dogs attack anyone who so ever moves their way… the main targets have been children going to school,” the residents said.
 The locals accused the administration of being callous over the public plight.
 “We sent a written application to the concerned and a copy of it to the local MLA, still no action has been taken,” the residents said.
 “We find it difficult to send our wards to schools for fear of being bitten because many of them have already fallen prey to the canines in the recent past,” they added.
 The residents appealed MLA Khanyar to look into the matter on priority basis and get the stray dogs eliminated.
 “Despite so many attacks on humans if anyone is still concerned about the welfare of dogs, let him or her take them to their homes,” the locals said.
 Pertinently there are over one lakh and growing dogs on prowl in the City whereas around ten thousand dog bite cases have been reported in Kashmir since start of 2010.
 As about this year, while scores of people were bitten atleast three have reportedly died of the deadly bites.
 Despite public hue and cry, the state government supports the view of animal rights activist that the stray packs can’t be eliminated adding that their sterilization was the only viable solution.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST