19 cows killed in stray dog attack in Rajnagar in North Tripura; Villagers allege negligence by ARD dept

Rajnagar village under the Yubrajnagar assembly constituency in North Tripura district has been gripped by panic following a deadly attack by a stray rabid dog.

Sources said that more than 30 cattle were reportedly severely injured in a single night, and villagers claim that 19 cows have already died till today. The incident has not only spread fear across the villagers but has also pushed several farming families into severe financial distress.

Local sources said that, on the night of January 12 this year, the stray dog attacked cattle in two wards of Rajnagar village, biting multiple animals one after another. The following day, affected livestock owners approached the nearest veterinary centre for assistance. Villagers allege that a team from the veterinary centre visited the area and administered only one vaccine dose to each infected animal, instructing the owners to administer the remaining four doses themselves before leaving.

Villagers alleged that in the name of government veterinary treatment, officials collected between Rs 500 and Rs 600 per family in some cases, and up to Rs 1,200 in others. Villagers claim that these collections were illegal and unethical though have been provided free rabbis’ vaccines.

Residents further allege that due to the lack of proper monitoring by veterinary department officials and the instruction for untrained villagers to administer vaccines themselves, the treatment proved ineffective. As a result, cattle began dying one after another. Some livestock owners were reportedly forced to sell their cows at low prices.

One affected farmer, Gajendra Nath, said, “We were compelled to administer the vaccines ourselves. Since they were not given properly, the treatment did not work. Had expert care been provided in time, so many cows would not have died.”

A woman livestock owner alleged that she was initially asked to pay Rs 1,200 for the treatment of her two cows and eventually paid Rs 1,000. However, the veterinary team left without providing proper treatment, and one of her cow later died.

On the other hand, two employees from the veterinary centre and the Animal Resources Department claimed that villagers contributed money voluntarily and that they made every possible effort to save the animals.

Reacting sharply over the incident, Yubrajnagar MLA Shailendra Chandra Nath criticized the administration’s response. He said that when he first received information, only two cows had died, and despite immediately informing the Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), no effective action was taken.

He alleged that those responsible for treatment also collected money from the victims. He further raised concerns about the possible use of expired medicines and questioned the practice of asking untrained villagers to administer vaccines. He has demanded financial assistance for affected farmers from the NDRF fund.

Meanwhile, anger is mounting in Dharmanagar town and surrounding rural areas over the unchecked movement of stray dogs and the lack of effective action by the municipal council or any animal rescue organization.

Amid fear and uncertainty, the farmers of Rajnagar continue to struggle, many stating that the deceased cattle were their sole source of livelihood.