In an apparently bizarre statement, UP parliamentary affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan said in the state Assembly on Monday that about 150 stray dogs were holding “meetings’ in Nagalia village in Rampur district and after the meeting, they disperse for organised attacks”.
He said that an 11-year-old girl was recently attack by about 150 dogs while she was on her way home. The passers-by who tried to save the girl were also attacked. The dogs ripped the girl to death.
He said that the issue was becoming a serious problem but there was little he could do to the dogs since BJP MP and animal activist Maneka Gandhi would make an issue out of it.
The minister was replying to a question related to the number of cases of child molestation and sexual abuse in Uttar Pradesh in the past 10 months.
While he said that 632 cases in this category had been registered and the state government was keen that fast track courts be set up to deal with such cases, his reference to the dogs seemed completely out of context.
He said a number of steps like starting women’s helpline, setting up women police stations besides constitution of human trafficking units in 24 districts have been taken to check such incidents in the state.
The government was serious and sensitive on the issue and would take steps to ensure that such incidents did not occur in future.
On a suggestion of creating data bank of criminals, Mr Khan said if such a practice was prevalent in any other state, UP would also consider it.
He said his government was mulling which type of officers should be posted at sensitive places and how administrative officers should act.
“The type of incidents, which took place in recent past are unfortunate and no government want such incidents to occur,” he said.