Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Aaditya Thackeray Condemns Puppy Protest, Police Book Activists in Nashik
Activists protested because they said officials were not doing enough about stray dogs and dog bites.
The protest took place at the Niphad Nagar Panchayat office in Nashik.
Video showed puppies or dogs being brought into a civic official’s office.
Reports differed on whether two puppies or four to five dogs were involved.
The animals were reportedly brought in sacks and placed on the official’s desk.
Police opened a case against Vikram Randhave and others over the protest and alleged animal cruelty.
Aaditya Thackeray said officials should address dog bites and provide proper care and shelters.
He also said the animals should not have been handled that way, and the activist later apologised.
Aaditya Thackeray condemned the handling of stray dogs during a Yuva Sena (UBT) protest in Niphad, Nashik.
Police registered a case against Vikram Randhave and associates for allegedly obstructing a public servant and animal cruelty.
Reports differed on the number of animals involved, describing either two puppies or four to five stray dogs.
Activists protested alleged civic inaction after reporting more than 470 dog-bite incidents over five months.
Thackeray said the protest’s objective was valid but demanded an apology and promised that such treatment would not happen again.
- Who
- Aaditya Thackeray, Yuva Sena (UBT) district functionary Vikram Randhave and his associates, Niphad civic officials, and police were involved.
- What
- Activists brought puppies or stray dogs into Chief Officer Dheeraj Bhamre’s office during a protest, prompting a police case and criticism from Thackeray.
- When
- The protest followed more than 470 reported dog-bite incidents over five months; the articles do not provide the incident’s specific date.
- Where
- The protest occurred at the Niphad Nagar Panchayat office in Nashik district, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Activists sought action on stray-dog bites and alleged civic inaction, demanding measures including sterilisation, vaccination and proper shelters.
Criticism of Protest Conduct
Demand for Civic Action
Handling of animals
Criticism of Protest Conduct
Aaditya Thackeray said the animals should not have been handled in that manner, warned the office-bearer and said the conduct did not follow the party line.
Demand for Civic Action
Activists brought the animals into the office to draw attention to what they described as continued civic inaction on the stray-dog problem.
Civic response to dog bites
Criticism of Protest Conduct
Niphad Chief Officer Dheeraj Bhamre reportedly said the civic body had already issued work tenders to address the issue.
Demand for Civic Action
Randhave and other activists said repeated complaints had been ignored and demanded effective action, including sterilisation, vaccination and shelter measures.
- Reported dog bites
- More than 470 incidents over five months, according to Thackeray’s statement
- Protest location
- Niphad Nagar Panchayat office, Nashik district, Maharashtra
- Animals involved
- Reports differed, describing two puppies or four to five stray dogs
- Protest leader
- Vikram Randhave, a Yuva Sena (UBT) district functionary
- Police case
- Alleged obstruction of a public servant and animal cruelty
- Civic official
- Dheeraj Bhamre, Chief Officer of Niphad Nagar Panchayat
- Activists’ demands
- Sterilisation, vaccination and proper shelter for stray animals
