Uttar Pradesh: 8-year-old mauled by stray dogs in Lucknow, blood-soaked body found with flesh hanging from face

On 1st March, an 8-year-old girl was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow. The blood-soaked body of the child was found in a field around 500 metres from her house in Tarauna village under the Rahimabad police station area. The deceased girl has been identified as Anshika Kashyap. Her face was completely mutilated, and pieces of flesh were reportedly torn from multiple parts of her body.

Attacked while stepping out of home

According to media reports, Anshika was a Class 1 student. She was the youngest among three siblings. At around 6 pm, she stepped out of her house. She had told her mother that she was going out briefly to relieve herself. Within a short distance from home, Anshika was attacked by 4 to 5 stray dogs that had been lurking in the area.

When she did not return for around half an hour, her mother Soni went out in search of her. She was met with a horrifying sight. The child was lying grievously injured in a nearby field. Villagers who rushed to the spot after hearing screams said the dogs were still around, sitting in a pack at some distance.

Media reports suggest that some women from the village had earlier spotted a body lying in the field and alerted others. Villagers reached the spot with sticks and found Anshika’s blood-soaked body. Bite marks were visible on her face, which was severely mauled. Paw prints were also seen at the site. The dogs were said to be from a neighbouring village.

Anshika was rushed to a hospital immediately, but doctors declared her brought dead. Police reached the scene and initiated further action. According to the villagers, they have complained about the aggressive stray dogs multiple times but have yielded no effective response.

Anshika’s father, Dilip Kashyap, broke down upon seeing his daughter’s body. Her mother fainted at the spot. The village remains in shock and anger.

Editor’s note

There are multiple aspects to this case. First, this is the second instance in a few days where a child has been attacked by stray dogs while stepping out to relieve themselves in the open, a grim reminder of ground realities in many parts of India.

Second, self-styled dog lovers often cite Lucknow as a model for Animal Birth Control implementation. While the government’s efforts under CNVR are appreciable, the situation on the ground tells a different story. The stray dog population has spiralled out of control. The existing ABC Rules, even if implemented with full force, are not going to stop dogs from killing people, especially the vulnerable, including children, the elderly and the disabled. It is high time that the government comes up with a plan that puts a stop to such incidents.

Disclaimer: This news report is based on information published by mainstream media outlets. For full context and additional details, readers are advised to refer to the original news reports linked above.

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