Thiruvananthapuram: Two devotees from northern Indian states were bitten by a stray dog near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday night. Temple employees who tried to chase the dog away were also injured.

The attack took place at around 9.30pm outside the North Gate. The dog had entered the temple premises through the West Gate, prompting employees to drive it out.

After being chased towards the North Gate, the dog attacked the two devotees who were standing near the post office after completing their darshan. Both suffered bite injuries to their legs and later sought treatment at the General Hospital.

Temple staff injured while catching dog

Four temple employees were also attacked while attempting to catch the animal. The guards suffered scratches on their bodies during the struggle.

The dog was eventually caught near the East Gate and handed over to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Municipal workers also captured some of the stray dogs found roaming around the temple premises on Tuesday morning.

The incident has once again brought attention to the stray dog problem in the capital city, where controlling the population has been a contentious issue.

Stray dog control a key civic challenge

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kerala's capital city's municipal body and the state's only corporation currently ruled by the BJP, has faced criticism over its handling of the issue.

The BJP-led NDA secured a historic victory in the corporation's local body elections, ending decades of LDF and UDF dominance. After taking charge, the administration had promised measures including a permanent shelter for stray dogs.

Mayor V.V. Rajesh has said the corporation established a shelter as a pilot project within its first month in office. However, opposition parties have alleged that the administration has not taken major policy decisions to address the stray dog menace.

Questions over treatment and relocation

Animal welfare groups have also raised concerns about the transparency of the corporation's stray dog management programme. They have questioned where dogs are taken after being picked up from the streets and alleged that some animals taken to Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres are later moved to undisclosed locations.

The groups have also raised allegations of illegal culling and questioned the funds allocated for shelters. The corporation has rejected the allegations.

Mayor Rajesh has maintained that no dogs are being culled and said the corporation is following established procedures for capturing, sterilising, vaccinating and rehabilitating animals based on public complaints.

Residents' groups and animal welfare organisations remain divided over the solution, with the former seeking relocation of dogs away from residential areas while animal welfare groups support systematic, ward-level ABC programmes.