Workers from the Yuva Sena, a prominent youth political organisation in Maharashtra, staged a striking protest at a government office in Nashik on Thursday, bringing several stray dogs inside and placing them on an official's desk. The unusual demonstration was organised to draw attention to what activists describe as a worsening stray dog menace across the city and the perceived inaction by local administration in addressing the issue.
According to reports, a small group of Yuva Sena workers entered the office premises carrying multiple street dogs. They placed the animals directly on the table of a concerned city official, using the visual spectacle to underscore the severity of the situation residents are facing daily. The protest caused a temporary disruption at the office, with staff and bystanders reacting with a mixture of shock and amusement.
Nashik has seen a steady rise in complaints about aggressive stray dogs in recent years. Residents have reported frequent incidents of dog bites, particularly in crowded markets and residential neighbourhoods. Schoolchildren and elderly citizens have been among the most affected, with several cases of rabies-related deaths and injuries making headlines over the past two years. Despite these concerns, locals say that animal control measures such as relocation drives and sterilisation programmes have been inadequate or poorly implemented.
The Yuva Sena has long positioned itself as an organisation willing to use unconventional tactics to push its demands. This protest follows a pattern of similar demonstrations the group has carried out across Maharashtra in the past, often designed to generate media attention and force officials to respond to grievances they consider ignored.
Local animal welfare groups expressed mixed reactions to the protest. While some acknowledged the legitimacy of the underlying concern about stray dogs, others criticised the method as potentially stressful for the animals and unsafe, since the released dogs could have bitten anyone in the office. The Nashik Municipal Corporation has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
