Surathkal: Stray dog attack leaves nine-year-old girl seriously injured

Vartha Bharati | 15-10-2025 | 22:45:00 IST

Mangaluru: A nine-year-old girl sustained serious injuries after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in Kana Maindaguri, Surathkal, on Wednesday evening.

The victim, identified as Rida Fatima (9), daughter of Haider Ali, was reportedly on her way to a nearby shop when the attack occurred. According to eyewitnesses, a group of stray dogs fighting nearby ran toward the child. Frightened, she turned back to run home, accidentally dropping the money in her hand. As she bent down to pick it up, the dogs pounced on her, biting her arms and legs and causing severe injuries.

Locals who heard the girl’s screams rushed to rescue her from the dogs and immediately took her to the Surathkal Community Health Centre for first aid. She was later shifted to Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru and then to a private hospital for further treatment.

Residents expressed strong anger against the Mangaluru City Corporation, accusing it of failing to control the growing menace of stray dogs in Surathkal and surrounding areas. They alleged that despite repeated incidents of dogs attacking children, women, and the elderly, the civic authorities have taken no effective measures.

Meanwhile, the girl’s uncle, Muhammad Sharif, alleged that Wenlock Hospital delayed treatment, forcing the family to move her to a private hospital for better care.

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Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder

17-04-2026 ¦ 17-04-2026 IST

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza

Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.

On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.

In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.

"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.

He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.

The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."

It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.

"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.

It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.

The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.

The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.

TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.

The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.

Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases. 

Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.

In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.