Decision To Remove Stray Dogs From Campus Bites IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), decided to remove two stray dogs from its campus after concerns on increasing cases of dog bites. The action, according to this report, has led Union Minister Maneka Gandhi taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and asking the ministry to take action against those responsible for removing the canines at the campus.

There have been 87 instances of dog bites reported at the campus in a year. In February, four guards at the IIT campus were in trouble for allegedly causing injury to the stray dogs while trapping them at the campus, after complaints about the  increasing numbers of stray dogs and the risk posed to students and people.

“We have also got a video in which the guards are seen trapping dogs with the help of a net, stuffing them in a sack and then bundling the hapless animals into a vehicle on IIT premises. We are trying to identify the guards with the help of the video which is doing rounds on social media. An FIR under Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (Conveying or carrying animals whether in or upon any vehicle, in any manner or position which causes discomfort, pain or suffering is a punishable offence under the act), has been lodged against four unidentified IIT-K security guards,” the SHO said.

Maneka Gandhi is known for her animal rights activism and the report says that the minister acted on complaints submitted by IIT Kanpur students.

Also Read: Dog Lovers Seem To Have Missed Reading On Modi’s Swachch Bharat