Coimbatore: Two stray dogs reportedly intervened when a man allegedly attempted to molest a woman sitting by the roadside near a railway overbridge in the Thudiyalur area, with CCTV footage capturing the animals repeatedly preventing him from approaching her.

According to police, the woman, who was reportedly mentally challenged, was regularly accompanied by the two stray dogs. The animals were with her when the accused allegedly approached the spot late at night.

CCTV footage showed the man initially attempting to drive the dogs away. He reportedly picked up a stone and chased them from the area. However, the dogs returned shortly afterwards and continued barking at him.

The man then allegedly attempted to molest the woman. She reportedly screamed for help, but as the incident took place late at night, no one was immediately present to intervene.

As the accused tried to approach her, one of the dogs reportedly rushed towards him, barking and pulling at his legs. The intervention prevented him from getting closer to the woman, according to the CCTV footage.

The man subsequently fled the scene, with one of the dogs reportedly chasing him as he ran away.

Incident came to light during CCTV review

The incident came to light by coincidence when Thudiyalur police were examining CCTV footage as part of an investigation into an unrelated complaint involving a roadside petty shop in the same locality.

While reviewing footage from cameras installed in the area, police reportedly noticed the incident involving the woman. They subsequently examined the footage in greater detail.

Based on the CCTV evidence, police identified the accused and arrested him from the Ganesh Nagar area.

Police are continuing their investigation and are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted molestation. The CCTV footage is being treated as key evidence in the case.

The actions of the two stray dogs have also drawn attention, with the footage appearing to show the animals repeatedly intervening when the accused tried to approach the woman.