Karnataka JDS MLC S L Bhojegowda admitted to killing 2,800 stray dogs in Chikmagalur for “children’s safety,” urging the state to petition the Supreme Court against strays. His remarks have triggered massive backlash from animal rights activists and the public.
Bengaluru witnessed a major political and legal controversy today after a senior leader from HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal (Secular) openly admitted to having killed thousands of stray dogs in the past, claiming it was done for the safety of children.
MLC S L Bhojegowda, while speaking in the Karnataka Legislative Council, said,
“We also have concern for animals, but animal lovers are another menace. But you see the suffering of young children. You read about this daily in the papers and TV. It is happening every day.”
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He then narrated an incident from his tenure as the head of the Chikmagalur civic body. Bhojegowda stated,
“We had mixed something with meat and fed about 2800 dogs and buried them under coconut trees… let’s go to jail also if needed for the safety of our kids.”
Bhojegowda also urged the state to approach the country’s highest court for action against stray dogs, saying,
“Petition be filed in the Supreme Court… let Karnataka be the first in India to ask the Supreme Court to act against dogs.”
Large-scale dog culling has been reported multiple times in different southern states over the last decade. These incidents have sparked protests from animal rights activists, especially after the Supreme Court’s recent order directing the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and relocating them to shelters.
The matter once again came into focus in Karnataka following two recent attacks on college students in Bengaluru. The victims, MSc students from the Ambedkar School of Economics University, had to be hospitalised due to their injuries.
There have also been fatal and serious incidents in other parts of Karnataka. Last month, a 70-year-old man from Kodigehalli died after allegedly being mauled by a pack of stray dogs just outside his home.
In another shocking case, a three-year-old girl in Shimla Nagar, Old Hubballi, was attacked by a group of stray dogs.
CCTV footage captured the dogs biting her on her shoulder, back, legs, and arms, and dragging her to the ground. She was rushed to KIMS Hospital with severe injuries.
In response to growing public anger, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice B S Patil criticised the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its failure to manage the stray dog menace.
One of the major shortcomings pointed out was the civic body’s inability to set up observation homes for aggressive dogs, despite earlier instructions from the Lokayukta.
Meanwhile, following the uproar over the Supreme Court order to round up and remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai assured that, “he would look into the issue.”
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