Ghaziabad: A man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly assaulting a 22-year-old woman who had stepped out to feed stray dogs in Siddharth Vihar, just hours after the Supreme Court barred feeding strays at non-designated spots. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has sparked concerns over vigilantism and the growing tensions around stray dog management.

The accused, identified as Kamal Kishore Khanna, a resident of Brahmaputra Enclave in Siddharth Vihar, was seen in the video approaching the woman and slapping her multiple times. The woman, Yashika Shukla, had reportedly been feeding three community dogs in her neighbourhood along with her friend, Seema Rani.

According to Seema's complaint, the confrontation began on Friday evening when a car allegedly driven by Khanna swerved dangerously towards them as they were feeding the dogs. “We saved ourselves at the last moment,” she said. Khanna then exited the car, abused them verbally, and slapped Yashika repeatedly, Seema added. She also alleged that hostility towards dog feeders was not new in the area, with earlier instances of threats and even violence against the animals.

ACP Ritesh Tripathi confirmed Khanna has been booked under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has been remanded in judicial custody.

Yashika also claimed Khanna threatened them against filing a police complaint. “He said he would make our lives difficult if we went to the authorities,” she told TOI.

However, Khanna’s brother, Gagan, offered a different version of events, alleging that the confrontation began when Yashika refused to let Khanna park his car in a designated slot and that she slapped him first. He claimed the video circulating online had been edited to exclude that portion, and accused the women of provoking the incident.

The incident comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent directives aimed at regulating the stray dog population and minimising human-animal conflict. The court ruled that municipalities must establish designated feeding areas and shelters for stray dogs. Feeding strays on the streets has been explicitly prohibited, and civic authorities have been asked to ensure that only sterilised, vaccinated, and dewormed dogs are re-released. Aggressive or rabid dogs are to be sheltered permanently.

The ruling follows growing concern over stray dog attacks, particularly in Delhi, where the Supreme Court earlier directed the creation of shelters for at least 5,000 dogs. Helplines are also to be launched for reporting violations, and individuals obstructing enforcement efforts may face contempt proceedings.

With no designated feeding zone currently in Siddharth Vihar, residents and animal welfare volunteers say the absence of clear guidelines on the ground continues to fuel friction between feeders and others in the community.