A pack of stray dogs reportedly mauled a man to death in Sowripalayam in the city on Sunday night.
The 46-year-old wall painter, in an inebriated state, had pelted stones on the dogs when they chased and mauled him. His body was found on Monday morning with his right thigh and right arm devoured. Residents of Sowripalayam said stray dog menace was getting worse day by day in the locality.
The deceased was identified as K Pugazhenthi, 46, of Anaiyankadu near Kallimadai in Singanallur. Police said there were several dog bite marks on the body which was confirmed by doctors as well during postmortem. "At the same time, there was one deep injury on the neck. The cause of that injury needs to be ascertained,'' said a police officer.
Eyewitnesses have seen the man pelting stones at the dogs and the animals chasing him on Uppilipalayam Road, though no one saw him being attacked by the pack. The body was found barely 300 metres away from the TASMAC shop on G V Residency - Uppilipalayam Road junction. "It was a deserted place with no houses or shops around. After 10pm when the TASMAC shop is closed the entire locality becomes dark,'' police said.
Police said Pugazhenthi's wife Maheswari, 40, and his two children had left him 10 days ago and went to her parents' house in Singanallur. On Sunday morning Pugazhenthi had visited his mother-in-law's house and sought reunion. Subsequently, his wife also returned home with him.
Around 7.30pm, he told his wife that he was going out to meet his friends and would return home soon. "It was then that he went to the liquor shop near GV Residency. However, he did not return,'' police said.
"Since there was a deep injury in the neck we are awaiting full postmortem report. We are also inquiring if he drank alone in the liquor outlet or with his friends. This would help us to conclusively say that the cause of death was dog bite,'' said S Parvinbanu, sub-inspector of police, Singanallur police station.
Police registered a case under Section 174 CrPC (suspicious death) and the body was handed over to the family after the postmortem.
But the incident has sparked fear and rage among residents of the locality. Sindhu, living along Uppilipalayam Road said that more than 20 stray dogs were spreading panic in the area.
"There were several occasions where stray dogs attempted to bite motorcycle riders at night. The dogs once chased my father a few months ago,'' she said.
Jayakumar, another resident, said the corporation should immediately take action to control the stray dog menace.
The 46-year-old wall painter, in an inebriated state, had pelted stones on the dogs when they chased and mauled him. His body was found on Monday morning with his right thigh and right arm devoured. Residents of Sowripalayam said stray dog menace was getting worse day by day in the locality.
The deceased was identified as K Pugazhenthi, 46, of Anaiyankadu near Kallimadai in Singanallur. Police said there were several dog bite marks on the body which was confirmed by doctors as well during postmortem. "At the same time, there was one deep injury on the neck. The cause of that injury needs to be ascertained,'' said a police officer.
Eyewitnesses have seen the man pelting stones at the dogs and the animals chasing him on Uppilipalayam Road, though no one saw him being attacked by the pack. The body was found barely 300 metres away from the TASMAC shop on G V Residency - Uppilipalayam Road junction. "It was a deserted place with no houses or shops around. After 10pm when the TASMAC shop is closed the entire locality becomes dark,'' police said.
Police said Pugazhenthi's wife Maheswari, 40, and his two children had left him 10 days ago and went to her parents' house in Singanallur. On Sunday morning Pugazhenthi had visited his mother-in-law's house and sought reunion. Subsequently, his wife also returned home with him.
Around 7.30pm, he told his wife that he was going out to meet his friends and would return home soon. "It was then that he went to the liquor shop near GV Residency. However, he did not return,'' police said.
"Since there was a deep injury in the neck we are awaiting full postmortem report. We are also inquiring if he drank alone in the liquor outlet or with his friends. This would help us to conclusively say that the cause of death was dog bite,'' said S Parvinbanu, sub-inspector of police, Singanallur police station.
Police registered a case under Section 174 CrPC (suspicious death) and the body was handed over to the family after the postmortem.
But the incident has sparked fear and rage among residents of the locality. Sindhu, living along Uppilipalayam Road said that more than 20 stray dogs were spreading panic in the area.
"There were several occasions where stray dogs attempted to bite motorcycle riders at night. The dogs once chased my father a few months ago,'' she said.
Jayakumar, another resident, said the corporation should immediately take action to control the stray dog menace.