7-year-old girl mauled to death by stray dogs in Amreli

Rajkot: Amreli district, known for having the highest population of lions along with a significant number of leopards and other wild animals, has long lived under spectre of wildlife attacks. However, stray dogs are increasingly emerging as a major threat, with children frequently being attacked by them.

A seven-year-old girl was mauled to death by three stray dogs on a farm near Vadiya in Amreli district on Tuesday. The victim, Anjana Sastai, the daughter of a migrant farm labourer, Prakash Sastai, succumbed to her injuries at a govt hospital.

According to the statement recorded by police, Anjana’s 28-year-old father and his family, natives of Madhya Pradesh, had been working as farm labourers at the farm owned by Vadhir Hirpara. While the family was working in a field on Tuesday, three dogs attacked the child, leaving her critically injured. She was taken to hospital by an ambulance but she died shortly after treatment began.

Vadiya police began an inquiry into the death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Police said Anjana’s elder sister had also been attacked by dogs 10 to 12 days ago. With instances of dog attacks on the rise, local residents have been demanding urgent action from authorities to curb the menace.