How Patiala couple’s rental home search turned horrific
PATIALA: They were looking for a place to live. Instead, a visit to a house they were considering renting left a Patiala couple injured and the woman requiring surgery after a Pitbull allegedly charged at them the moment they opened the property’s gate.Ankit Sabharwal and his wife Shifali had gone to Ghuman Nagar on Tuesday evening with a property dealer to inspect the house. What happened next turned an ordinary property visit into a medical emergency.According to Ankit, the couple had barely opened the gate when the dog rushed towards them and attacked his wife. She suffered deep injuries to her arms and other parts of her body and later underwent surgery on her arms and legs.Ankit was also injured while trying to protect his wife. He said he suffered bite wounds on his legs and back and received stitches across his body.“I was going to see a house, along with my wife. I was called to see the property for rent. As soon as we reached there and opened the latch on the gate, the dog attacked us. My wife and I were injured,” Ankit said.Purported CCTV footage of the incident shows the Pitbull attacking the couple as nearby residents attempt to drive it away with sticks.A woman is seen emerging from the house carrying a stick and trying to intervene, but the dog continues its attack. Eventually, two to three more people arrive with sticks and manage to pull the injured couple away from the animal.“I have received stitches all over my body. My wife has undergone surgery on her arms and legs….My wife is under observation after surgery,” Ankit said.He also alleged that the dog did not stop even after its owner asked it to.“I want justice. The dog did not stop even after being ordered by its owner. My wife is under observation after surgery,” he said.Ankit said he had informed the police and sought strict action against those responsible, alleging that the dog had been allowed to roam freely.The incident has also brought renewed attention to concerns over dog attacks in Patiala. On August 9, a girl was allegedly mauled by a stray dog while passing through Guru Nanak Nagar.Following the latest incident, Patiala Mayor Kundan Gogia said keeping aggressive dog breeds as pets would be banned in the city.He said the issue would be taken up at a House meeting of the municipal corporation, where a special resolution on the matter may be considered.
