Have your say: Is IIT-K right in banishing stray dogs from its campus?

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), has been in news for all wrong reasons over the past few days. All hell broke loose once the premier institution ‘forcefully’ got rid of a couple of stray dogs off its hallowed campus recently.

The reason? There had been 87 instances of dog bites on its campus in a span of one year, according to the institute. Following the alleged menace, some of its security guards had to reportedly trap a few stray dogs and bundle them off the campus. This led to an official police complaint being filed by an IIT-K student.

“We have also got a video in which the guards are seen trapping dogs with the help of a net, stuffing them in a sack and then bundling the hapless animals into a vehicle on IIT premises. We are trying to identify the guards with the help of the video which is doing rounds on social media,” an investigating official was quoted saying.

An FIR under Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (Conveying or carrying animals whether in or upon any vehicle, in any manner or position which causes discomfort, pain or suffering is a punishable offence under the act), has been lodged against four unidentified IIT-K security guards after the incident.

Now, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, who is also a renowned animal rights activist, has urged the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to initiate action against those responsible for removing the canines from the campus.

While nobody wants any risk posed to students and residents on the IIT-K campus, the authorities concerned could have adopted a more humane approach in evacuating the stray dogs.

What do you think as the solution to this issue? Do write in with your opinions in the comments section below.