A group of political activists in the Nashik district of Maharashtra adopted an unusual method of protest on Tuesday, releasing stray dogs directly onto the desk of a senior local authority official to highlight growing public safety concerns.
Members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) Youth Wing, led by district chief Vikram Randhave, stormed the Niphad Nagar Panchayat headquarters. The group confronted Chief Officer Dhiraj Bhambre over what they described as a complete failure by the municipal administration to manage the rising stray dog population in the region.
A video of the incident, which quickly went viral across social media platforms, shows Randhave opening a large sack and placing a small stray dog directly onto Bhambre’s desk. Caught entirely off guard, the official stepped away from his seat as the frightened animal darted towards a corner of the office. Moments later, a second dog was released from another sack, which scrambled across the desk before cowering in the room.
Randhave was also seen wearing a garland made of 20-rupee banknotes, while placing a similar garland on the official’s desk during a heated verbal exchange. Speaking to media outlets after the demonstration, the activist claimed that local residents had endured six months of persistent hazards due to aggressive strays.
According to Randhave, repeated complaints—complete with photographic evidence—had been submitted to the authorities to no avail. He cited a recent incident where a young child was bitten by a stray, alongside frequent attacks on women and commuters navigating the town’s streets. The timing of the protest coincided with the ongoing Ganesh festival, during which devotees visiting local temples have reportedly faced persistent attacks from packs of dogs.
The activists accused Bhambre of prioritizing commercial tenders over urgent public safety matters. Randhave warned that if the municipal administration fails to implement effective animal birth control and vaccination measures within eight days, further protests involving stray animals will follow.
