A protest over the stray dog menace in Maharashtra’s Nashik district took an unusual turn on Wednesday when members of Yuva Sena (UBT) released stray dogs on the table of a civic official.

The protesters entered the office of Dheeraj Bhamre, chief officer of Niphad Nagar Panchayat, carrying two sacks. They then untied the sacks, allowing the dogs to emerge inside the office.

The Yuva Sena (UBT), the youth wing of Shiv Sena (UBT), said the protest was aimed at highlighting what it alleged was official inaction over the stray dog problem in the civic body’s jurisdiction.

According to the protesters, repeated complaints had failed to prompt action. They claimed several citizens had been bitten by stray dogs and warned that the issue could pose a greater risk to the public, particularly children, during the ongoing Ganesh festival.

“If you don’t solve the problem in two days, we will bring more people, including women, to protest here,” Yuva Sena (UBT) district chief Vikram Randhave told Bhamre.

Responding to the protest, the chief officer said the civic body had floated a tender twice to address the issue.