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Stray dogs in India
In a shocking incident, a six-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a pack of street dogs at Kakumanu village panchayat in Guntur district on Wednesday.

The girl, S K Kousar, was going to meet her aunt, who was working in the fields, around 10 am when a pack of 10 dogs pounced on her and bit her indiscriminately, resulting in her instant death.

According to reports, a shepherd, who was passing by, first heard the cries of the girl and rushed to the spot in the minority colony in the village. Though he managed to drive away the dogs, it was too late as the girl had succumbed to the injuries by then. She was bitten all over the body and her innards had come out.

On being informed, the girl's family rushed to the spot, but they were able to take only her lifeless body home.

Blaming the death on the negligence of the civic officials, who allegedly failed to take proper measures despite repeated complaints over the severe stray dog menace, the villagers, along with the family members and relatives of the victim, staged a dharna on the Guntur-Kakumanu road blocking traffic for nearly four hours. "We have been complaining to the officials about the dog menace for six months now, but to no avail. We are afraid of venturing out even during the day, leave alone nights, as the stray dogs attack pedestrians and vehicle users without any provocation," a protestor said.

Collector Kantilal Dhande, along with the district panchayat officer and ZP chairperson Janimuna Shaik, visited the spot and assured to take action to curb the menace. Dhande also announced a compensation of '4 lakh to the bereaved family. The protest was then withdrawn.

Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao and Social Welfare Minister R Kishore Babu also expressed their shock over the death of the girl and directed the officials to rush to the spot and provide necessary assistance.

It may be noted that Kousar was the second girl to come under dog attack in the colony within a span of a few days. The first victim, another minor, was still undergoing treatment at the Guntur Government General Hospital. Coming from an economically-poor family, villagers had to pool money for her treatment.