Karnataka MLC killed 2,500 dogs? Bhojegowda says 'mixed something with meat, fed, and buried them'

A JD(S) MLC from Karnataka admitted to overseeing the killing of as many as 2,500 dogs by poisoning them and claimed that this was done to protect children. 

S.L. Bhojegowda made these remarks recently during a discussion in the legislature session on the issue of stray dogs, say media reports. 

He said he oversaw the killing of the dogs while serving as the chairman of the Chikkamagaluru municipal council, without specifying the period during which the dogs were killed.

"We had mixed something with meat and fed about 2,500 dogs and buried them under coconut trees... let us go to jail also if needed for the safety of our kids," he was quoted as saying.

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The MLC demanded that the state government file a petition before the Supreme Court to "act against dogs."

As the state government expressed its helplessness to handle the stray dog menace, citing petitions by animal lovers, the MLC said if someone is opposing the removal of street dogs, the government should leave some street dogs in their compounds to make them understand the reality. 

What will they do if a stray bites their children, the MLC sought to know, reported Deccan Herald.

Meanwhile, Opposition MLAs on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government to implement the Supreme Court directives on addressing the street dog menace in the state and take steps to protect the residents. The MLAs highlighted the stray dog issue near Vidhana Soudha and the Legislators' Home, and sought the Speaker's intervention. 

Earlier in February, Speaker U.T. Khader had announced that it has been decided to build shelters for dogs and to manage them with the help of NGOs, aimed at resolving the problem caused by street dogs on the Vidhana Soudha premises. He had made it clear that the dogs won't be shifted elsewhere.