Minister takes 21 hours to visit stray victim family in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: It took nearly 21 hours for a minister to call on the family of a poor fisherwoman, mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs less than 25 km from the capital city.

By the time power minister Kadakampally Surendran reached the accident site, the victim had been buried at the local cemetery.

Mr Surendran, who represents nearby Kazhakoottam constituency, visited an injured person in hospital and called on the bereaved family around 6 pm. But the visit left the bereaved family members and local people seething with anger as he failed to announce any relief on behalf of the government.

“There is widespread resentment among local people over the failure of government machinery to provide help in time. Not just this, the official response to any mishap occurring at sea and coastal villages is delayed and the poor and marginalised people are always neglected. There needs to be serious action on the issue (stray dog menace) as children are also victims,” said Fr Eugene H Pereira, vicar general of Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese. But he lauded the response of local panchayat.

Silvamma, 65, wife of the late Chinnappan, was fatally attacked by around 50 stray dogs as she came out of the house to relieve herself near Pulluvila coastal village on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram around 7.30 pm on Saturday.

Sadly, the house has no toilet. Hearing her cries, son Selvaraj came out to help but the pack pounced on him, driving him to the sea.

The attack continued for around 15 minutes during which the woman’s skull was battered and the brain spilt. Hands and toes were bitten off. Local residents chased away dogs with glass bottles and lit torches.

The victim was taken to Neyyatinkara taluk hospital where she was declared brought dead. She leaves behind two sons.

Kanjiramkulam police said that around four hours after the attack, another woman Daisy, 52 who lives 400 metres away from Silvamma’s house, was also attacked. The woman is recuperating from serious injuries on legs and hands at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

Early morning, revenue officials, led by the Neyyatinkara Tehsildar, visited the spot. Mr MP Vincent, MLA, and CPM leader V Sivankutty were also present.