Month after death of siblings, teen mauled by dogs in same area in Delhi

The incident took place around 7.30 am in the Rangpuri forest area, where two siblings, aged 7 and 5, died after they were allegedly attacked by street dogs on March 10 and 12 when they were roaming around.

Manoj C, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Southwest, said, “The boy, a resident of the same area, went outside his home around 7.30 am when 8-10 dogs attacked him. He has injuries all over his body and was taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment.”

Doctors said Sirajuddin suffered over 12 injuries on his abdomen, back and hands. “We haven’t received a complaint, PCR call or MLC. We will talk to the parents and the boy once he’s stable,” added DCP Manoj.

Last month, police wrote to MCD in connection with the dogs, and over 40 canines were picked up by the civic body and vaccinated and later released. The autopsies of the siblings, Anand and Aditya, suggest they died due to multiple injuries, shock, and haemorrhage.

Sirajuddin’s family said they are concerned about the inaction of the authorities.

“We have four kids. We have seen the mother of the siblings…she lives 100-200 metres away. What if these dogs attack our other kids? Sirajuddin was walking towards the general store when the dogs surrounded him. He has deep cuts and scratches…his hands and back are badly injured. Will the MCD do something now? Nobody is safe here,” said Maksood, the boy’s father who works as a ragpicker.

Shakti, a family friend and a local, said, “We were all sitting outside and drinking tea when I heard the boy’s screams. There were at least 12-13 dogs. I sent my father…he pelted stones and beat up the dogs with sticks to save the boy. The dogs were barking at us, too. We somehow managed to rescue the kid. We want the dogs to be removed. We all have children, and they aren’t safe.”