Mumbai Crime: Borivali woman assaulted over feeding stray dogs

The 27-year-old accused identified as Aman Bansode (center)

A row over feeding stray dogs took a violent turn at Yogi Nagar in Borivali west when an irate youth assaulted and manhandled a young woman and her family members who came to her rescue. As the 27-year-old accused identified as Aman Bansode, a third year college student, has been booked for molestation along with assault, the name of the woman has been withheld by the police.

The incident occurred at 11 pm on Sunday, when the 25-year-old woman, a resident of Yogi Nagar, arrived with her parents and brother to feed stray dogs. Bansode, a resident of Malad, who was previously residing at Yogi Nagar would often come there to meet his friends.

"The victim is a cake maker and an animal lover who has been feeding stray dogs and cats in the Yogi Nagar area for the past four years," said a police officer from MHB police station. According to the MHB police, Bansode took offense to the woman placing the food for the stray animals in the middle of the footpath. The argument ensued when Bansode asked the woman to place the food on the side of the pavement. The argument turned violent when Bansode allegedly manhandled the woman and assaulted her. Bansode also attacked the woman's parents and her brother who came to her rescue. The local residents who knew the family intervened and extricated them from Bansode's wrath. The woman and her family went to Bhagwati Hospital to treat the injuries.

When the police were informed about the assault, the family could only provide the assaulters' name. Police sub-inspector Dr Deepak Hinde identified the assaulter from his Instagram account and ascertained his address from the bike number displayed as his display picture in his social media account. The accused was subsequently apprehended from Malvani area on Tuesday morning. Bansode has been charged under various sections including 324, 323, 504, 506, 354, 509, and 506(2) of the IPC, which primarily pertains to assault and molestation, among other things.

"No one has the right to prevent the feeding of stray animals. If someone has an issue, they can report it to the relevant department or the police. Stopping someone from feeding animals or assaulting them is a criminal act and action will be taken against those who engage in such behavior," said senior police inspector Sudhir Kudalkar of the MHB police station."