Dogs seem to have become a bigger threat to Maoists than police informers or CPI(M) activists in West Bengal. The rebels have put up posters in forest areas of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts, warning people not to feed street dogs or keep them as pets. They’ve also ordered people to kill dogs.
Maoists are doing this to counter a ploy by police, who have been encouraging people to keep street dogs. That’s because the rebels mostly move from place to place late in the night and attract the attention of street dogs, who bark loudly whenever they see strangers in the locality.
“Since the barking alerts people and security personnel, police advised locals to either keep dogs as pets or feed street dogs. In fact, security personnel are using this tactic to keeps themselves on the guard against Maoists,” a police officer said.
In fact, some people have started obeying the Maoist diktat. In Shalboni, more than 100 bodies of dogs were found in the past month. All the animals were poisoned. “Animal rights groups are proactive about street dogs. I hope they protest this new phenomenon,” the officer said.
