Lobby behind culling case in Supreme Court: Sreekantan AS

Thiruvanthapuram: Four members of Kizhuvilam panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district who got summons from the Supreme Court for allegedly culling dogs will meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a probe against a lobby that filed a case against them. The culling allegedly took place soon after stray dogs mauled an 85-year-old man to death on April 8 at Mamam.  The man had allegedly collapsed and had lain in the field for hours before being mauled by dogs, partially eaten by them and was found dead.

The case was filed by Nikita Anand of Haryana through her counsel Prashant Bhusan. Four politicians confirmed that they had received summons.  They include Chirayankeezhu block panchayat member Manju Pradeep, Kizhuvillam panchayat Members Sreekantan AS, Biju Kumar and Shahjahan. A few others including Attingal Municipality Chairperson M Pradeep and activist Jose Maveli also were reportedly arraigned but they were yet to receive summons.

“Good Samaritans like Kochouseph Chittilappilly have offered to financially help us with legal proceedings. Soon after the incident on April 13, Attingal police has registered a case against several people for culling the dogs. However, we the bottom level members of the three-tier panchayat system were targeted. We suspect a lobby is working against us,” said Sreekantan AS.       They will appear before the court of July 8 and have requested more Samaritans for help.