Kannur: In a tragic incident, a young boy named Nihal, who hailed from  Kettinakam region of Muzhappilangad in Kannur, was allegedly attacked and fatally injured by a group of stray dogs. Nihal, who was autistic, lost his life. 

The boy went missing from the house around 5 pm and was found dead 500m away. The family members thought the kid was playing outside, but only to see him lifeless. The body was found near the gate of a deserted house in the locality around 8:30 pm by locals after a search. 

It has come to light that the boy, who was differently-abled and faced speech-related issues, may have been unable to call for help, which could explain why the alleged stray dog attack went unnoticed.

According to reports, bite marks could be seen on his body. The body was in a pool of blood and he was rushed to the hospital, but pronounced dead. The body has been shifted to Thalassery Hospital. 

According to locals, the area has been grappling with a persistent stray dog problem, and despite numerous complaints, the authorities concerned have allegedly failed to address the issue.

Reacting to the development, Local Self-government Minister MB Rajesh expressed dismay. He claimed that the incident happened due to the panchayat administration's laxity in implementing measures pushed by the government to curb stray dog menace. However, Kannur Mayor passed the buck back to the state government.