100s bid adieu to autistic boy, 11, killed by stray dogs in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: Hundreds of people bid an emotional farewell to Nihal Noushad (11), the boy with autism who was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Muzhappilangad in Kannur.
The incident triggered protests against authorities for not taking effective steps to address stray dog menace.
People in the village were shocked over the gruesome nature of the attack and vented their anguish before elected representatives and officials who came to visit the family, including the chairman of the child rights commission. Nihal's body was brought to Darul Rahma house at Kettinakam around noon. Later his body was taken to Kettinakam juma masjid for public homage and the funeral was held at Edakkad Manappuram Juma Masjid at 2pm.
The inquest and autopsy at Thalassery general hospital revealed the horrific nature of the attack as bite marks and scratches were seen all across his body, including deep injuries behind his neck and ear. Also a part of his thigh was bitten off, said an officer.
Kannur panchayat president PP Divya said the local body will again approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to kill dangerous stray dogs. She said though Kannur panchayat was implementing animal birth control programme and had sterilized 1094 dogs in the last eight months, stray dog menace can't be resolved by ABC project alone.
"We had earlier approached SC seeking permission to kill dangerous strays. Kannur panchayat would once again move the apex court raising this demand in the light of the current scenario. Local body institutions should be granted permission to kill dangerous stray dogs just like the permission granted to kill wild boars that damage crops," she said.
Minister for cooperation VN Vasavan said the government will bring this incident to the notice of the Supreme Court. Child rights commission registered a suo motu case in connection with the incident. Panel chairman KV Manoj Kumar said the commission will implead in the case before Supreme Court and examine if there were lapses from authorities concerned.
Nihal, son of Naushad and Nufisa, was a student of Jaycee Special School at Dharmadom. Naushad, who is working in the Gulf, is expected to reach Kannur late on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Youth Congress, Welfare Party and SDPI took out protest marches to Muzhappilangad panchayat office alleging neglect on the part of authorities in taking action on the several complaints lodged by the public over stray dog menace.