Three-year-old mauled by stray dog in Maharashtra's Beed; receives 12 stitches on face

In Maharashtra's Beed district, a three-year-old girl named Shivanshi Rameshwar Gholap required 12 stitches following an attack by a stray dog. The incident occurred in the Shivtej Nagar area of Dhande Nagar when Shivanshi was playing outside her home. She is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Nagar Naka. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the city; last month, a young girl was similarly attacked on Dhanor Road.

Public frustration towards the municipal administration has risen after CCTV footage of the earlier attack was released. Furthermore, reports of stray dog assaults have surfaced in Beed city's Mominpura area, where multiple people were reportedly targeted by the animals. With this latest incident involving a three-year-old victim, concerns are being raised about the municipal administration's response to the growing stray dog issue in the city.

In response to this rising problem, the state government recently initiated a comprehensive statewide intervention to tackle the stray dog menace. All urban and rural local bodies have been instructed to strictly implement sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination protocols, as per the Central government’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and Supreme Court directives.

Industries Minister Uday Samant announced these measures during the state Legislative Assembly's Question Hour. The issue was brought up by MLA Arjun Khotkar, who questioned the escalating safety risks posed by stray dogs, with several other members participating in the heated debate.