Kerala: Biz tycoon launches hunger strike over stray dog menace

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21: Kerala Industrialist Kochouseph Chittilappilly on Saturday began a 24-hour hunger strike here seeking an end to the stray dog menace.

Speaking on the occasion, Chittilappilly said "the penalty amount for killing a stray dog was only Rs 50. If everyone decides to kill a stray dog a day, then the menace will be over."

Slamming the 2001 law, which prevents culling of stray dogs, he urged the people to work together to put pressure on the government to amend it. There have been reports of violent attacks by stray dogs on humans, including young children.

Since 2014, Chittilappilly has been campaigning against the dog menace for which he came under a lot of criticism from animal lovers and has also been booked under various animal cruelty laws for inciting the public to kill stray dogs.

Chittilappilly, Founder-Chairman and Managing Director of V-Guard Industries, has donated one of his kidneys to an truck driver. Archbishop Soosai Pakiam of the Latin Catholic church, inaugurated the fast, which began at 12 noon.

The agitation has been organised under the aegis of Federation of Residents Association of Thiruvananthapuram here. Thiruvananthapuram District Collector, Biju Prabhakar, was also present.

PTI