Mumbai: A deeply disturbing incident has surfaced from the Jogeshwari area of Mumbai, where a man was reportedly caught on camera attempting to sexually assault a female street dog in the dead of night. The video, now widely circulated on social media, has triggered a wave of public anger — not only against the perpetrator but also over the alleged refusal by police to take action.

Incident captured on camera

The shocking event was first reported by Instagram user @dushyantvyas, who was out for a late-night walk on Saturday when he noticed suspicious activity near a parked car. On getting closer, he saw a man holding a street dog between his legs and behaving inappropriately. Sensing abuse, the user began recording the act.

In the video, the man is seen sitting on the pavement, the dog visibly distressed and pinned between his legs. As the passerby approaches and intervenes, the dog escapes and runs toward the passerby wagging its tail, suggesting both fear and relief. The accused briefly stares at the camera before fleeing the scene.

Police allegedly refuse to register case

According to the caption accompanying the video and subsequent statements by the user, the local police refused to register a complaint, stating the matter did not fall under their jurisdiction. This has further fuelled outrage, especially among animal rights activists and concerned citizens online.

The user tagged the page @streetdogsofbombay to help amplify the issue. He also added that local residents claim the same man frequents the area and targets street dogs, taking advantage of their trusting nature.

Legal perspective: What the law says

India has several legal provisions that criminalise acts of cruelty against animals. These include:

  • The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

    • Defines and prohibits cruelty against animals

    • Mandates the creation of the Animal Welfare Board of India

  • Indian Penal Code (IPC)

    • Section 428: Punishes killing or maiming animals with up to 2 years’ imprisonment

    • Section 429: Prescribes 5 years’ imprisonment for killing, poisoning, or maiming animals of greater value

These laws empower the police to act in such cases, and failure to do so could amount to dereliction of duty. Several animal welfare organisations and legal professionals have now urged the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take suo motu cognisance of the incident.

Public calls for justice

The viral video has prompted a flood of online reactions demanding accountability. Users have tagged Mumbai Police and Maharashtra’s Home Department, urging immediate action and calling for stricter enforcement of animal protection laws.

Activists from organisations such as PETA India and People for Animals have condemned the act and promised to pursue legal recourse.

“This is not just a case of animal cruelty, but a sign of deep psychological disturbance. Law enforcement needs to intervene before this individual turns violent against humans too,” said a volunteer with a Mumbai-based NGO.