Daijiworld Media Network – Nagpur

Nagpur, Aug 10: What was meant to be a carefree Friday evening turned into horror for 5-year-old Nitya Mongre, who was savagely attacked by a pack of 8-10 stray dogs outside her home in Deshpande Layout, Trimurti Nagar, around 5 pm.

Nitya, daughter of daily wager-turned-security guard Shravan Mongre, sustained deep wounds on her neck and shoulders and is undergoing treatment at Radhakrishna Hospital.

“I was on my way to my hometown Mandla in MP for Rakhi when I got the call. By the time I returned, my daughter had been mauled,” said a distraught Mongre, who moved to Nagpur just four months ago seeking work.

The street was nearly deserted when the attack occurred. A kirana shop owner’s cries for help alerted a passing motorcyclist, who drove the dogs away using his bike and rescued the bleeding child.

Locals alleged that such attacks have become frequent in the city. “The NMC collects taxes from us, but what about our safety? If our children can’t even step out without fear, who is responsible?” questioned resident Mayur Kumbhare.

Mongre blamed both the unchecked stray dog population and rampant roadside feeding. “People feed them biscuits and chapatis on the roadside. The dogs gather in packs and attack passersby. There should be penalties for this,” he said.

The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme to sterilise and vaccinate strays is progressing at a slow pace, leaving thousands of unsterilised dogs roaming the streets.

Following the incident, fresh demands have emerged for aggressive sterilisation drives, stricter pet ownership rules, and banning public feeding of strays in unsafe areas.

NMC veterinary officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle said a team was dispatched to the area soon after the incident, and two stray dogs from the pack were captured on Saturday. “Preventive measures have been initiated to curb the menace,” he added.