1 week ago
Man in Dog Costume Protests Khandwa’s Stray Dog Menace
A local politician in Khandwa wanted officials to pay attention to stray dogs.
He brought someone wearing a dog costume to a public meeting.
He said many people had been bitten by dogs.
He also said children were scared to go to school and people were afraid to travel at night.
The politician claimed that money spent on controlling stray dogs had not solved the problem.
He also alleged that there were problems with a sterilisation-programme tender.
The district collector said using a costume was not the right way to make a complaint.
However, he said officials would examine the allegations and take action if wrongdoing was found.
Congress leader Deepak “Mullu” Rathore brought a man in a dog costume to Khandwa’s collectorate during a public hearing.
Rathore claimed that about 13,225 people had been bitten by dogs in Khandwa.
He said residents feared walking at night and that children were afraid to go to school.
Rathore alleged irregularities in a tender for the Municipal Corporation’s stray-dog sterilisation programme.
Collector Rishav Gupta called the stunt inappropriate but said the allegations would be investigated.
- Who
- Congress leader and Khandwa Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition Deepak “Mullu” Rathore, along with a man in a dog costume, and Collector Rishav Gupta.
- What
- Rathore staged a protest about stray-dog attacks and alleged irregularities in a dog-sterilisation tender.
- Where
- The Khandwa collectorate office in Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- During a routine Jan Sunwai, or public hearing; no specific date was stated.
- Why
- To highlight the alleged rise in stray dogs, dog bites, public fear, and suspected irregularities in the sterilisation programme.
Protester’s Position
Collector’s Position
How the stray-dog problem should be addressed
Protester’s Position
Deepak “Mullu” Rathore said stray dogs were increasingly attacking people and animals, creating fear, and that existing spending had not reduced their numbers.
Collector’s Position
Rishav Gupta acknowledged that dog-bite cases involving stray animals had been raised but said the public hearing should be treated as a serious administrative forum.
Use of the dog costume
Protester’s Position
Rathore used a person in a dog costume to attract attention and submit the complaint during the protest.
Collector’s Position
Gupta said using a person in a dog mask as a publicity stunt was inappropriate and that complaints should follow the normal procedure.
Sterilisation tender allegations
Protester’s Position
Rathore alleged irregularities involving the company awarded the stray-dog sterilisation tender and sought strict action against those responsible.
Collector’s Position
Gupta said the allegations would be looked into and that appropriate action would follow if irregularities were found.
Key facts
- Location
- Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
- Setting
- Routine Jan Sunwai public hearing at the collectorate
- Reported dog bites
- Rathore claimed approximately 13,225 people had been bitten
- Main allegation
- Irregularities in the tender for the stray-dog sterilisation programme
- Public concerns cited
- Fear among pedestrians at night and children afraid to go to school
- Collector’s response
- The protest method was criticised, but the allegations would be examined
- Public hearing scale
- The collector said around 200 to 250 applications are received and addressed during Jan Sunwai
Quotes
Deepak "Mullu" Rathore
Congress leader and municipal opposition head
“"During Jan Sunwai, a matter came to light regarding stray animals, and such publicity stunts are not appropriate."”
livemint.com
“"There is an atmosphere of fear. Children are afraid to go to school."”
livemint.com
Sources
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