Girl’s death in dog attack at Sopore fuels anger over stalled sterilisation drive in Baramulla

Baramulla, Apr 12: The death of an eight-year-old girl in Sopore has once again brought the growing menace of stray dog attacks in north Kashfmir into sharp focus, with residents accusing authorities of inaction and policy paralysis.

Aiman Adnan Sheikh was mauled to death after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in the Seloo area on Friday while visiting her family’s land. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and fear, particularly among parents, as such attacks are increasingly being seen as part of a disturbing pattern rather than isolated cases.

Baramulla district has witnessed several fatal and non-fatal dog attacks in recent years. One of the most shocking incidents occurred in 2020, when a prominent advocate was killed in a similar attack in Dewanbagh, Baramulla.

Despite repeated public outcry and assurances from the administration, a comprehensive sterilisation programme has yet to take off in large parts of north Kashmir. Residents allege that official response has largely remained confined to announcements, with little visible action on the ground.

“We will be training our men for the sterilisation programme. The drive will be started within five months in the Sopore area,” said Wali Muhammad, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Sopore.

However, locals say such assurances have been repeated after every major incident without any tangible outcome.

“Every time a tragedy happens, promises are made. But nothing changes,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Muslim Peer area of Sopore.

Officials acknowledge that coordination between the Animal Husbandry Department and municipal bodies is crucial for implementing the sterilisation programme. In the past, the Animal Husbandry Department has expressed readiness to conduct sterilisation surgeries, but maintained that the responsibility of capturing and transporting stray dogs lies with municipal authorities.

Municipal bodies, on the other hand, cite lack of funds and infrastructure as key constraints, resulting in a prolonged delay in launching the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in semi-urban and rural areas such as Sopore and Baramulla.

Government data indicates that over 43,000 stray dogs have been sterilised across Jammu and Kashmir between 2023 and 2025. However, most of the exercise has been concentrated in urban centres like Srinagar and Jammu, leaving rural belts—where human-animal conflict is often more acute—largely neglected.

The absence of sterilisation measures, coupled with poor waste management, has led to a sharp rise in stray dog population, residents say.

Even basic groundwork, such as identification of land for sterilisation centres and deployment of dog-catching teams, remains incomplete in many areas.

In several parts of Baramulla and Sopore, residents say stepping out early in the morning or late in the evening has become risky, with packs of stray dogs roaming freely and often targeting children and the elderly. Schools, orchards and residential lanes have increasingly turned into potential danger zones.

The latest incident has intensified calls for urgent intervention, with residents demanding immediate sterilisation drives, dedicated funding and clear accountability to prevent further tragedies.