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Dead toddler's mum wants dog owner behind bars

Released on probation, the neighbour will be out of jail for 3 years

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Chitra Gupta’s daughter was mauled to death by her neighbour’s pet dog in September 2012
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Thirty-nine-year-old Chitra Gupta has been fighting for five long years for justice. Gupta's 11-month-old daughter Dhanlaxmi was mauled to death by the pet dog of her neighbour in East Delhi's Kondli area on September 18, 2012.

Since then the dog has died and the owner, Rajat Taneja, was convicted for culpable homicide by a Delhi court. But the fact that he has been released on probation for three years has angered the family.

"Even though my daughter will not come back, I would want the convict behind bars. This would have given me some satisfaction. Now we are going to appeal in a superior court against the judgment," Gupta said.

The incident happened when the toddler was playing with a 14-year-old boy Ravi Solanki at a park near the house. Taneja, who had brought his black Rotweiler for a walk in the park, is said to have uttered "hush" and pointed towards Solanki, leading Gupta to allege that he had ordered the dog to attack the child.

However, Solanki refused all charges against him and said that he was falsely implicated.

The 'unleashed dog' pounced upon the girl and dragged her while biting her body. She succumbed to her injuries within a few hours.

An MCD inspection, just after the incident to the accused's home, found three dogs there. Officials said that the dog, which had bitten the toddler, was very aggressive when the dog catcher tried to catch him. The beast was caught with the help of public persons and a rope was tied around its neck, which got tightened and it died.

Meanwhile, Taneja was convicted under section 304 (Part II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) after the court found "the facts established unerringly point towards the guilt of accused."

The accused was convicted by a Delhi court on May 17 this year and on June 1 the sentence was pronounced. Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Bedi released the convict on probation for three years with a fine of Rs 50,000.

The court said that since the accused is a first time offender, he was being released on probation. But they also ruled that if he was found to be involved in any criminal activity, he would be liable to serve a sentence as rigorous imprisonment for five years with an additional fine of Rs 10,000.

The court also directed the Secretary of Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA) East to pay compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the victim's family.

But the Gupta says no money can bring back her child.

"I will remember my daughter till the last breath. Being her mother, I have to garner strength and take the battle forward till we get justice," she said.

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