Protest against BMC, animal lovers over stray dogs issue

Bhopal: Residents of Maple Tree Society, located on Jail Road in Gandhi Nagar, gathered late on Thursday night to protest against the menace of street dogs. The residents, mostly women, assembled at the colony gate and staged a demonstration against the municipal corporation and dog lovers. A police team from Gandhi Nagar reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. Residents warned that if the stray dogs problem is not resolved soon, they will launch an intensified agitation against it.The protest continued until late in the night. Residents said they faced serious problems due to street dogs in the colony. A large number of dogs from nearby areas entered the locality, leading to an increase in dog-bite incidents. Recently, elderly people and children were bitten by stray dogs. They alleged that complaints were lodged with the municipal corporation, but the dog lovers filed false complaints against them at the police station for raising the issue. Angered by this, residents of Maple Tree Society protested against the administration. They blocked the society gate and raised slogans. The protestors said stray dogs troubled the colony for several months and attacked people passing through the area. Elderly residents and children were the most frightened. They claimed that despite repeated complaints to the administration and the municipal corporation, no action was taken. Police officials counselled the residents. Residents warned that if the problem is not resolved within this time, they will block the road in protest.Gandhi Nagar SHO Vijendra Marskole said that, acting on information about the protest, a police team reached the spot and counselled the residents. They ended their protest, saying that they would submit a memorandum to the municipal corporation.