Four-year-old boy bitten by Customs dog at Kolkata airport, handler fled, family files FIR

A four-year-old boy en route to Malaysia for a holiday with his family on August 12 was attacked by a Customs dog at Kolkata’s NSCBI Airport, resulting in deep scratches on his back and hospitalisation. The family cancelled its trip and lodged an FIR on August 19 with the NSCBI airport police station against the dog handler.

The child, Anav Jain, is currently undergoing a treatment protocol involving five doses of immunisation over 28 days.

According to airport sources cited by TOI, the dog is a four-year-old female Alsatian named Nancy, trained for narcotics detection at the Customs Canine Centre in Attari. Customs officials declined to comment when contacted.


In the FIR, the child’s father, Rounak Jain, a businessman, told TOI: “My four-year-old son fell victim to a vicious attack by a Customs department dog named Nancy while we were en route to departure Gate 4A & 48 for our flight to Malaysia. The incompetent dog handler failed to control the dog, resulting in an unprovoked and 'severe-category' injury to my child.”

Jain further alleged, “The dog handler deserted his post and absconded with the dog, leaving us to deal with the traumatic aftermath alone.” He also claimed the airport authorities showed “a shocking lack of empathy and urgency” and acted only after Anav’s condition worsened. “The airport doctor downplayed the severity of the dog bite, when it was evident that my child required immediate medical attention,” he told TOI. Jain added that the family’s request for CCTV footage was denied.

Bidhannagar police said an FIR has been registered against the handler under a section of the BNS that carries a penalty of six months' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 500, or both.

Airport authorities said they are investigating the incident.

Anav was taken to a private hospital in New Town, where he received overnight treatment and follow-ups for a week. The child’s uncle, Roshan Jain, told TOI, “Anav was so happy and we clicked his photo. Moments later, he was attacked by the dog. For 15 minutes we received no help till CISF personnel fetched the airport doctor. The doctor, shockingly, asked us to continue with the trip.”

(With inputs from TOI)