Shocking Incident: Mother and Son Arrested After Pet Dog Attacks Neighbor’s Daughter in Coimbatore
A 50-year-old woman and her son from Coimbatore have been arrested following an alarming incident involving their pet dogs. The police arrested K. Sowmiya and her older son, K. Surya, on charges that include letting one of their dogs bite a neighbor’s child, a young girl attending Class I. This incident is not Sowmiya’s first brush with the law, as she had previously faced similar charges in 2023.
The family resides in the New Housing Unit at Ammankulam near Puliyakulam, where they keep four dogs. Their neighbor, L. Ponvel, his wife, and their two children, a five-year-old daughter and a seven-month-old son, live in the adjacent unit. According to police reports, the trouble began on May 3 when Mr. Ponvel’s daughter was playing near Sowmiya’s residence. Sowmiya allegedly scolded the child for playing there, but the girl continued.
The situation escalated when Sowmiya, along with her elder son Surya and younger son Santharam Prakash, reportedly unleashed their dogs, one of which bit the child. In response to the attack, Mr. Ponvel confronted Sowmiya, only to be met with verbal abuse from the family. Concerned for his daughter’s well-being, Mr. Ponvel took her to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment and subsequently filed a complaint with the Ramanathapuram police.
The police have charged Sowmiya and her sons with several offenses. These include negligent conduct concerning an animal under Section 291, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means under Section 118(1), as well as other charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Madras City Police Act of 1888. Sowmiya was taken into custody on Monday, followed by Surya on Tuesday. According to Sub-inspector K. Kalidass, efforts are ongoing to locate Prakash, who is also implicated.
In response to the incident, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation intervened by sending two of the family’s dogs to a care facility, with plans to relocate the remaining dogs soon.
This incident has raised concerns within the community, highlighting issues surrounding pet ownership responsibilities and community safety. It underscores the importance of effective animal management, especially in close-knit residential areas such as housing units.
Stay informed on ongoing updates as the police continue their investigation, and community members and authorities alike consider measures to prevent similar episodes in the future.
Published – May 06, 2025 05:24 pm IST
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/woman-son-held-for-letting-pet-dog-bite-neighbours-daughter-in-coimbatore/article69544797.ece
Category : Coimbatore
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Publish Date: 2025-05-06 17:24:00
