8-year-old mauled to death by stray dogs

Meerut: An eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Saharanpur district, triggering panic among villagers who said their repeated complaints had gone unheard.The incident occurred on Monday evening in Fatehpur police station area, when the victim, a Class 3 student, had gone to the fields on the outskirts of his village to collect fodder. Police said he was alone when a pack of dogs attacked him, inflicting severe injuries.SHO Virendra Singh Rana said the injured boy was taken to a primary health centre, where doctors declared him brought dead. “The body has been sent for postmortem, and further action will be taken based on a complaint by the family,” he said.“We have complained several times about stray dogs, but no action was taken. Now a child has lost his life. Who will take responsibility?” said a resident.The boy was the third of four siblings, and the son of a labourer who loads bricks on tractor-trolleys.Similar incidents have been reported in the district in recent years. In April 2025, a nine-year-old boy was mauled to death in Islamnagar village of Rampur Maniharan area. On Sept 20, 2024, a four-year-old from Majra Kazipura was killed in a similar attack. In 2023, a seven-year-old boy from Bilaspur village died in an attack on Feb 18, while cattle were killed in Gangoh on Dec 8.