Ahmedabad: The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) had directed local authorities to compensate families of victims in two separate fatal incidents involving stray animals, underscoring concerns over public safety and civic accountability.According to the Commission’s 19th annual administrative report tabled in the state assembly, compensation of Rs 3 lakh was paid to the legal heir of a woman who died after being attacked by a bull in Mandvi town of Kutch district. Taking serious note of the incident based on a complaint and media reports, the Commission sought detailed responses from the district magistrate and district development officer of Kutch, as well as the chief officer of Mandvi municipality.The municipal authority, in its submission, confirmed payment of compensation and outlined preventive measures undertaken to avoid recurrence. The report noted that the Commission’s intervention ensured both financial relief to the victim’s family and the implementation of safeguards against similar incidents.In another case from Rapar town in Kutch, the Commission took suo motu cognisance of a report highlighting attacks by stray cattle in which eight persons were injured and one, a retired public works department employee, died. Following directions from the Commission, the Rapar municipality provided compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the family of the deceased and submitted a plan to address the stray animal menace.The GSHRC also noted that in a previous case it had directed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to compensate a victim of dog bites.Overall, the Commission handled 2,583 complaints or suo motu cases during the period, disposing of 2,016. Ahmedabad city accounted for the highest number of cases at 543, of which 435 were resolved, the report added.
