A minor boy sustained serious injuries in Mumbai after being attacked by a pitbull dog, allegedly released deliberately by its owner on July 17 around 10 p.m. The incident occurred in a residential area where the child was sitting in a parked auto-rickshaw with friends.
According to the boy’s account, the accused, Sohail Khan, approached them with his dog after being questioned by one of the children. As the dog advanced, the boy’s friends fled, but he couldn’t escape. The dog bit him on the chin and hands, and also tugged at his clothes, leaving him terrified.
“He was laughing as he let the dog loose on me. I was really scared,” the child said.
The attack, partially captured in a viral video, triggered outrage on social media. Police confirmed that Sohail Khan, a local resident, had knowingly released his brown pitbull, which led to the assault.
Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, an FIR was registered at Mankhurd Police Station under Sections 291, 125, and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A notice under Section 35(3) BNS has also been served to the accused.
This incident underscores growing concerns over pet owner accountability. As per data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, over 21.9 lakh dog bite cases were reported across India in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for stronger animal control and public safety policies.