Injured dog dies, cracker burns suspected

Noida: A dog that had suffered a serious head injury and burns died in Dankaur on Monday afternoon, sparking speculation that a cracker may have been burst near the animal and caused the wounds on it.
A doctor who treated the animal confirmed it had died of the burn injuries on it. Although an autopsy on the corpse had been suggested, police were yet to do it by Monday evening.
Animal activist Kaveri Rana, who is also a member of the Wildlife and Gaushala Committee, said they were informed about the injured dog by a local journalist. “A journalist from Dankaur told us that a cracker may have been tied to the animal’s tail and set on fire. When we brought the dog to our centre, it was getting fits and its legs had severe burn injuries. It is possible that someone may have burst a cracker near the animal. It also had a head injury. The dog was not being able to walk and the head had to be given support,” Rana said.
She informed other activists and asked them to take up the matter with the authorities concerned. The dog was then taken to Life Care hospital in Sector 61. Dr Vikas Sharma, who attended to the animal, said the dog had severe burns on the hind legs. “I asked for the dog’s X-Ray, ultrasound and blood tests to be conducted immediately,” he said.
As these examinations for canines were not available in Noida, the dog was taken to CFCU Vet in Ghaziabad. “The reports showed that the animal had a brain haemorrhage apart from burns. It was assumed that the injury may have been caused by the bursting of a cracker near the animal. The dog died at the hospital around 1.30pm on Monday. I had suggested an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death,” Dr Sharma said.
Members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, however, claimed they had information that a cracker had been tied to the animal and set on fire. “We informed police and handed over a memorandum to them, demanding that an FIR be lodged in the case. However, police claimed that the dog had met with an accident. We have asked them to investigate the matter. Doctors have confirmed it had burn injuries. We are meeting the Dankaur SHO on Tuesday,” said Naveen Sharma, the district general secretary of the Hindu Yuva Vahini.
Arvind Pathak, the SHO of Dankaur police station, claimed that doctors had told them that the head injury was caused by an accident. Asked about the burns and the advice of an autopsy, Pathak said they hadn’t received any complaint so far.