A Bengaluru-based software engineer endured a terrifying late-night ordeal in HSR Layout, when a pack of stray dogs chased him, forcing him to jump into a residential property — only to be accused of theft.
Recounting the incident on Reddit, he said the episode left him shaken. Around 11:02 pm, while walking home, several dogs began chasing him. Cornered behind a car, he had two options — leap over the car or jump a nearby gate. Choosing the latter for safety, he landed inside a residential compound.
Within moments, three residents — an elderly man, his wife, and their daughter — confronted him. Despite apologising and explaining that he was fleeing from dogs, they dismissed his reasoning, questioning why he trespassed.
He showed multiple identity proofs, including his PAN card, Aadhaar, address, and Darwinbox profile, to prove his employment as a software engineer. However, the residents accused him of being a thief, seized his phone, and said they would return it the next day after verifying his claim. His repeated requests to review CCTV footage or call the police were refused.
After nearly 30 minutes, a neighbour was called to check CCTV footage, which confirmed his story. Only then was his phone returned.
The engineer later cited Section 81 and Section 97 of the IPC, which allow entry into private property to escape imminent danger, and noted that withholding his phone could fall under Section 403 for wrongful confinement of property.