Kashmir: Civil society up in arms against authorities
‘No action to curb the menace’
Yasir Ashraf
Srinagar: For the
first time in Kashmir, civil society activists today held protest against the government’s inaction towards perpetual problem of stray dog
bites.
Carrying banners which denounced animal rights groups and the government for its inaction over the threat posed by the increasing canine
population and attacks on people.
“In Srinagar, stray dogs controlled the street. Groups of dogs attack pedestrians and school going
children creating a perpetual fear among people,” Mohammad Salim told Agence India Press.
“Government, Srinagar Municipal
Corporation and other concerned authorities are not taking any action against this menace. The animal rights organizations maintain killer silence
over the dog bites which took several human lives and rendered dozens maimed. In a democracy, our govt. cares and protects street dogs than the human
being. Not a single action is taken to control this stray dog menace,” Zareef Ahmad Zareef, a prominent activist from the Valley
said.
The activist lashed out at the government for being passive to bring relief to people.
“The animal rights group should also
be answerable what they are going to do in controlling the Srinagar street dog gangs,” he added.
“During night hours, one cannot
walk without fear of dog bite. The SMC are doing nothing to curb the menace,” he added.
The protesters said stray dogs cannot be allowed
to survive at the expense of humans. The stray dog population in Kashmir is estimated to be over 10 lakh. The municipal authorities last year had
planned dog sterilization and culling drive to curb the growing menace but this has been resisted by some animal rights groups and dog
lovers.
Over thousands of dog bite cases have been registered in Srinagar hospitals alone in the last couple of years. Some of the canine
attacks have proved fatal for humans, including the death of a 10-year-old last month, which sparked public outrage.
Civil society groups
threatened to undertake dog culling themselves if the government fails to control the menace and protect people. (AIP News)
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