6-year-old boy bitten by a pet dog, family blames dog’s owner for negligence
Rishi Ghai, a Class 1 student of Guru Harkrishan Public School, was playing with friends in a park inside a residential complex when he was attacked by the dog.
A six-year-old boy was allegedly attacked by a pet dog in east Delhi’s Geeta Colony on Sunday evening.
Rishi Ghai, a Class 1 student of Guru Harkrishan Public School, was playing with friends in a park inside a residential complex when he was attacked by the dog.
A case of negligent conduct with respect to an animal has been registered at the Geeta Colony police station.
In 2015, 77,294 cases were reported across 35 city hospitals in Delhi, information obtained under RTI has revealed. One case of dog bite is reported every six minutes in the capital.
Despite being operated in two different hospitals till now, Rishi’s condition is critical. Geeta, Rishi’s grandmother, who called the police, blames the owner of the dog for negligence.
“It was about 5.30pm when Rishi was playing with friends in the park. A middle-aged woman who lives in the same neighbourhood was taking a stroll with her pet dog. Instead of firmly holding on to the dog’s collar, she let it go. The dog straight away ran towards the children and attacked Rishi,” said Geeta.
Rishi began bleeding after getting bitten on his right leg.
“I was alone at home with my grandson when he got bitten. Feeling helpless, I asked the dog’s owner to take Rishi to the hospital. But she refused and began arguing,” Geeta said.
Pratap Sisodia, 58, another resident, said the dog’s owner was rude and refused to apologise for the incident. “She kept saying, so what if the dog has bitten the boy?” said Sisodia.
Geeta called the police and Rishi was rushed to a hospital.
Rishi lives with his grandmother and father in Mayurdhwaj Apartment. The family had shifted to Geeta Colony from Paharganj around two months back.
According to Rishi’s grandmother, owners of pet dogs have been strictly prohibited from walking their dogs inside society’s parks. “But still this woman brought her dog to the park where children were playing. This is entirely her fault,” said Geeta.
Police said they are probing the case and are yet to arrest the woman.