Controversy over the steps to control stray dog menace in Kerala took an ugly turn today with the arrest of three persons for allegedly culling four strays last week in a village at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district.
Police said Jose Maveli, who heads the Stray Dog Eradication Committee, and two others--O M Joy (president of the Stray Dog Elimination Group) and one Ranjan--were arrested today for allegedly culling four stray dogs in Pulluvazhy area.
They were arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by one T K Sajeev of the Society of Prevention of Cruelty against Animals, police said.
Jose Maveli has been arrested for abetting the killing of stray dogs, they said.
Police said that Stray Dog Eradication Committee headed by Maveli allegedly offered a remuneration of Rs 500 for killing a stray dog and this offer inspired the other two persons to cull the dogs.
The carcasses were digged out from two places in the Pulluvazhy area and post-mortem performed by veterinary surgeons yesterday after the Society of Prevention of Cruelty against Animals demanded action, police said.
The three have been arrested under bailable offence, police said.
Meanwhile, with the continuing stray dog menace creating panic among public, Rotary Cochin Central today said they would kickstart a campaign in Kochi --The Run 4 Life--to create awareness among citizens for a cleaner and safer city without stray dogs.
During 2014-15, some 1.06 lakh people in Kerala were bitten by dogs, according to the state government.
