Kerala man booked for carrying air gun to protect kids from stray dog menace in state

Kasaragod (Kerala): Kerala police on Saturday registered a case against a man for carrying an air gun to protect his children from stray dogs while escorting them to a nearby Madrasa in Kasaragod district.

The police reportedly registered the case on its own, a day after a short video of an armed man, Sameer, escorting a group of children to the Madrasa had gone viral.

In the video, he could be seen walking in front of the children wielding the gun and saying that he would shoot any stray dog if it attacked them in the wake of increasing reports of dog bites in the state.

Bekal police told PTI that the man was charged under IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot).

Sameer had told the media on Friday that it was his responsibility as a father to ensure the protection of his children.

He pointed out that he was forced to carry the gun as his own children and those of his neighbours stopped going to school for fear of stray dogs, which has been an issue in the area for some time.

Amid mounting criticism of the government's inability to control the canine population or instil confidence among people regarding the efficacy of the anti-rabies vaccine, the Left government has initiated steps to address the menace on a war footing.

The government has launched a state-wide mass vaccination campaign from September 20 to October 20 for vaccinating stray and pet dogs and opening more Animal Birth Control centres.