The victim sustained severe injuries, including the loss of his right ear.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A six-year-old boy was severely injured after being mauled by a pet pitbull in north-west Delhi’s Prem Nagar, the police said on Monday, adding that the owner has been arrested. A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said the dog, which bit off the victim’s right ear, had been shifted to an animal birth control centre in Najafgarh, where it will be kept permanently.
An officer said they received a PCR call at 5.38 p.m. on Sunday about a child being attacked by a dog and rushed to hospital by his parents.
“The boy was playing outside his home in Vinay Enclave when the pitbull suddenly emerged from a neighbour’s house and attacked him. The child suffered major injuries, including the loss of his right ear,” said the officer.
The officer added, “The owner was identified as Rajesh Pal, 50, a tailor, who lives nearby. During the attack, the child suffered major injuries, including the loss of his right ear, which the dog bit off.”
The child is receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Neighbours helped the family rescue the child, after which he was immediately taken to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Rohini, from where he was referred to a different hospital, said the officer, adding that the victim is currently undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
Preliminary inquiry has revealed that the pitbull was brought home around one-and-a-half years ago by Mr. Rajesh’s son, Sachin, who is presently lodged in jail in connection with a case registered under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder), said the officer.
The police have recorded the statement of the victim’s father, Dinesh, 32, who works at a private factory in Kirti Nagar. Based on the complaint and medical findings, a case under Sections 291 (negligent conduct with respect to animals) and 125(b) (causing grievous hurt) has been registered at Prem Nagar police station, and further investigation is under way, said the police.
Trust-run shelter
“We received the complaint regarding the incident around 2.30 p.m. (on Monday), after which we picked up the dog and moved it to the nearest ABC centre,” said the MCD official, adding that the canine would never be released.
“The centre is run by a trust, which has the infrastructure to keep the dog permanently. The MCD will not bear any costs in the dog’s upkeep,” he added. The civic body currently does not have its own dog shelters. It oversees 20 ABC centres run by NGOs.
Proposals by MCD panel
Meanwhile, the MCD’s stray dog committee has recommended setting up “ward-level stray dog monitoring committees” during a meeting on Monday. These committees would include municipal officials, ward councillors, members of residents’ welfare associations, veterinarians, and NGOs to ensure better implementation of the ABC programme.
It also proposed creating special high-risk dog-holding areas in each zone for aggressive or rabid dogs and not releasing them back into the same locality.
Other suggestions include a six-month sterilisation and vaccination plan for each ward, two more mobile vans per zone, MoUs with the Animal Husbandry Department and approved NGOs, and mandatory daily reporting.
The committee also recommended civil defence training, public awareness drives on responsible feeding and dog-bite prevention, ensuring anti-rabies vaccines are always stocked at primary health centres, and scientifically identifying dog-feeding zones.
Published – November 25, 2025 12:57 am IST
