Bengaluru Mother's Rottweiler Attack Leaves Her with Over 100 Stitches and Deep Trauma
A week after a horrific Rottweiler attack in Bengaluru, a young mother is grappling with severe physical injuries and psychological trauma that has left her family devastated. Shalini Kumari Dubey, 31, was brutally mauled by an unleashed dog during her morning walk on Republic Day, resulting in over 100 stitches on her face and body.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The incident occurred in Teachers' Colony, HSR Layout, where Shalini, a native of Bhopal who moved to Bengaluru in June last year, was walking. CCTV footage reveals the unleashed Rottweiler charging at her as its owner opened the gate, with the owner standing helplessly during the prolonged attack. Shalini, who works at an IT firm, underwent an eight-hour surgery for deep wounds and remains hospitalized.
Her husband, Satya Prakash Dubey, 35, expressed the family's anguish, stating, "She has so many stitches on her face that we fear showing her face to our 17-month-old baby. We are totally devastated." He added that while Shalini is out of danger, she is traumatized, and they worry about the child's reaction to her disfigured appearance.
Legal Action and Owner's Absconding
The police have booked the dog owner, Amaresh Reddy, under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 117(3) for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
- Section 125 for endangering human life
- Section 291 for negligent conduct with respect to an animal
Satya filed a complaint with HSR Layout police, but Reddy and his family have locked up their house and absconded after videos of the attack went viral. A police officer noted that Reddy is in the liquor business and efforts are underway to track him down. Satya criticized the owner's irresponsibility, saying, "When he knows that the dog is aggressive, he should have at least kept it on a leash."
Broader Context of Dog Bite Incidents in India
This case highlights a larger issue of dog attacks in the country. According to data from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying presented in Lok Sabha in April 2025:
- Between January 2022 and January 2025, India reported 93,87,807 dog bite cases.
- Karnataka alone accounted for 7,97,002 incidents during this period.
- Nationwide, 126 deaths were linked to dog bites in the same timeframe.
The Dubey family's ordeal underscores the urgent need for responsible pet ownership and stricter enforcement of safety measures to prevent such tragedies in urban areas like Bengaluru.
