NASHIK: In a striking act of protest against what they called the civic body's apathy toward the growing stray dog menace, activists from the Yuva Sena released a number of stray dogs inside the office of the Niphad Nagar Panchayat in Maharashtra's Nashik district on Tuesday.
The protesters, who reportedly scaled the walls of the municipal office, let loose approximately 15 to 20 stray dogs inside the premises, causing chaos among the staff and forcing the Chief Officer to take shelter in an inner room for several minutes. The incident took place during working hours and was captured on video by local residents, which quickly circulated on social media platforms.
The Yuva Sena, a youth wing closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been vocal about animal-related grievances across Maharashtra in recent months. In this case, the activists alleged that the Niphad Nagar Panchayat has failed to implement basic measures to control the stray dog population, despite repeated complaints from residents about aggressive animals roaming freely in the market areas and residential neighborhoods.
According to the protesters, there have been at least eight reported dog-bite incidents in the Niphad area over the past three months alone, including two serious cases involving children. Residents, particularly women and elderly citizens, have expressed fear about venturing out after sunset due to packs of stray dogs gathering in poorly lit areas.
The activists demanded immediate action from the civic body, including the deployment of dedicated dog-catching squads, increased funding for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, and regular sterilization camps. They also called for the creation of designated dog shelters outside residential zones and stricter enforcement of municipal bylaws relating to pet ownership and stray animal management.
Chief Officer Rajesh Patil, who was present at the office during the protest,第一时间 assured the activists that the matter would be reviewed at the next executive committee meeting. He stated that the municipal authority has been facing budgetary constraints that have limited its ability to conduct adequate sterilization drives, but promised to prioritize the issue and explore alternative arrangements, including coordination with the district animal husbandry department.
Local veterinarian Dr. Meera Joshi, who has been consulted on ABC program implementation in the district, noted that Nashik city and its surrounding areas have seen a 30 percent increase in stray dog complaints over the past year. She emphasized that catching and releasing dogs within government offices, while symbolic, does not address the root cause and urged authorities to follow the Supreme Court-directed guidelines for sustainable stray dog population management.
The Niphad Nagar Panchayat serves a population of roughly 45,000 and has faced criticism in the past for inadequate sanitation and civic infrastructure. Animal rights groups in the region have previously staged similar protests across Maharashtra, demanding better enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and improved welfare measures for strays.
As of Wednesday morning, no further action had been taken by the municipal body, and residents continued to report daily encounters with stray dogs in the market complex near the panchayat office.
