SL Bhojegowda, a Janata Dal (Secular) member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, has sparked intense outrage after openly stating that he personally oversaw the killing of 2,800 stray dogs during his tenure as head of the Chikkamagaluru municipal council. The remark, made during a formal discussion in the council on the growing stray dog problem, has drawn sharp condemnation from animal rights groups and members of the public.
Bhojegowda’s statement was delivered without apparent remorse; he even went on to say that the carcasses had been buried beneath trees so they could “serve as natural compost.” The casual tone and seemingly boastful delivery further inflamed criticism, with many calling it both inhumane and out of step with modern approaches to stray animal management.
It remains unclear exactly when the killings took place, but the timing of Bhojegowda’s revelation is especially controversial, as it coincides with a strong Supreme Court directive aimed at humane and systematic control of stray dog populations. Just days earlier, the apex court ordered civic authorities in Delhi and the National Capital Region to immediately begin catching, sterilising, and permanently relocating stray dogs to CCTV-monitored shelters. The court’s plan also called for the construction of such shelters, the removal of 5,000 dogs from high-risk zones within six weeks, and the establishment of a helpline for reporting dog bites and rabies cases.
Responding to Bhojegowda’s questions in the council, Karnataka’s Minister for Municipal Administration and Hajj, Rahim Khan, cited the challenges posed by ongoing legal petitions and resistance from animal welfare advocates. In a move that stirred further controversy, some MLCs proposed that ten stray dogs be released into the homes of people opposing their removal, suggesting such measures would make them “understand the reality” of the situation.
Bhojegowda justified his position by pointing to the frequency of dog bite incidents. “We are witnessing dog bite cases daily, and victims are ending up in hospitals. If a stray bites someone’s child, what will they do then?” he asked.
The concerns are not unfounded—official data from the Karnataka State Surveillance Unit’s infectious disease monitoring shows that between January and August 2025, the state recorded 2.86 lakh dog bite cases and 26 deaths suspected to be from rabies. Between August 4 and 10 alone, 5,652 dog bite incidents were reported, although no rabies deaths occurred that week.
Adding to the urgency, a recent attack in Bengaluru left two college students—Sujanya G. J. from Haveri and Rega Nikshitha from Telangana—hospitalised after a pack of stray dogs mauled them on the Bengaluru University campus near Kengeri. Special Commissioner (Health and Sanitation) for the BBMP, Suralkar Vikas Kishor, later confirmed that the students were recovering, and a detailed veterinary report was pending.
Bhojegowda’s remarks, juxtaposed with the Supreme Court’s humane intervention plan, have reignited the state’s ongoing debate over how to balance public safety with ethical animal welfare practices.
