A 65-year-old woman was killed in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram after 50 dogs attacked her while she was on the Pulluvila beach on Friday night.
The victim has been identified as Silluamma.
Another woman, identified as Daisy, from Pulluvilla was injured after dogs attacked her. She has been hospitalised.
In 2015, dozens of dogs were culled after being poisoned and the Kerala government was criticised worldwide for its move to kill stray dogs. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had said that the police won't take action against those who kill dangerous and rabid dogs. This menace in the state was referred to as a law and order problem by the minister.
His response came in reaction to arrest of those who had culled stray dogs. However, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had said that any dog could be categorised as "dangerous and rabid" as there was no scientific basis for it.
In January 2016, the Centre told the Supreme Court that stray dogs were a menace in Kerala and multiple incidents where children were attacked had taken place.
"It [stray dog attacks] has increased from an average of 88,178 incidents per year to more than one lakh a year. In 2015, till June, 11 persons died due to rabies contacted through dog bites," Advocate VK Biju of petitioner NGO 'Aluva Janaseva' had said.
"Public health and sanitation; hospital and dispensaries" falls under the state list, the Ministry of Women and Child Development had said in an affidavit. "It is, therefore, the duty of the state government to provide sufficient medicines to government as well as private hospitals to tackle the dangerous situation arising due to attack of stray dogs in the state of Kerala," it added.
The SC may give directions to the state government of Kerala to take immediate steps to protect children from attack by stray dogs, the court may direct the state government to issue appropriate direction to local municipal bodies to act according to provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The rehabilitation of the families of victims who died due to stray dog attacks, the state government may take action in this regard," the WCD ministry had said.
