In a shocking incident, an 84-year-old bedridden woman was mauled to death by a stray dog inside her home in Erumappetty in Kerala’s Thrissur district, triggering panic among residents. The dog was later chased and beaten to death by locals with the help of a dog catcher.
The victim, identified as Karthyayani, a resident of Kollanppadi in Vellarakkad, had been bedridden for the past two years after suffering a fracture.
According to reports, the stray dog entered her house on Thursday evening and attacked her while she was lying on her bed. The attack left her face and body severely mutilated. Her 60-year-old son Devadas, who lives with her and reportedly suffers from mental health issues, was also critically injured while trying to intervene.
The incident came to light at around 6.30 pm when Karthyayani’s other son, Mani, arrived at the house to deliver food. On discovering the attack, locals raised an alarm and informed the police.
Police soon reached the spot and shifted the woman’s body to the medical college hospital for post-mortem examination.
Local residents later chased the stray dog along with a local dog catcher and beat it to death. Police also reached the scene shortly after the animal was killed.
Locals say the area has been facing a growing stray dog menace. Radhika, a resident of the locality, said many dogs gather in the area because several residents work with leather.
“Most people here are leather workers. Many dogs come to feed on leather scraps. It has become difficult to step out alone at night. Parents even escort their children to the school bus and wait until they board,” she said.
Radhika added that the dog involved in the attack had appeared in the area only a day earlier. “Around noon, people saw it attacking a cat on the roadside. Later it bit another dog in the next street. After these incidents, it entered the house and attacked the bedridden woman,” she said.
According to locals, stray dogs often take shelter in abandoned houses in the locality, and there have been previous attacks as well. The incident has once again raised concerns among residents over the growing stray dog problem in the region.
Also read: Bihar: 3 docs suspended for falsify custodial death post-mortem
Follow us
