Noida: A Gaur City 2 resident suffered a fractured index finger and sustained injuries to her legs and back from an assault by a fellow resident of the township when she was on her way to feed community dogs on Saturday evening.Bhavna Kapoor alleged she was attacked with a wooden stick — the kind security guards use — by Deepak Chauhan while his wife Tinu allegedly threatened to run her scooter over her.This is the second time, Bhavna alleged, that Chauhan has been involved in an attack on her. In Feb 2024, Chauhan and a section of residents had protested against Bhavna for feeding dogs. Though an FIR was filed then, Bhavna said there was no followup action by police and no effort by the Noida administration or Greater Noida Authority to sensitise residents and protect those who help feed community dogs.Following Bhavna’s latest complaint, Chauhan was taken into custody after an FIR was registered at Bisrakh police station. Munendra Singh, SHO of Bisrakh, told TOI the case was registered against Chauhan and Tinu under sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of BNS. “We have arrested Deepak and further investigation is under way,” he said.Bhavna as well as animal rights activists, however, said compared to the gravity of the assault, Chauhan was slapped with a lighter charge and asked why police had not invoked Section 117 (grievous injury and assault using a dangerous weapon). Section 115 is invoked for minor injuries. Bhavna said her finger injury was serious because of multiple fractures and she feared permanent disability. The hospital report says she requires surgery. Bhavna was referred to Safdarjung hospital by the Noida District Hospital for treatment. Besides her finger, she has bruises on her knees and back.According to Bhavna, she was on her way to basement 3 of 14th Avenue via basement 2 to feed the dogs when the assault occurred between 7.40pm and 8.15pm. “I’ve always fed community dogs, but never in basement 2. I feed them in basement 3 as they were born there,” she said.
Bhavna Kapoor, a resident of 14th Avenue, suffered multiple fractures on her index finger
Speaking to TOI, Chauhan did not deny the incident but claimed he was “merely trying to protect myself and my family”. “There are 4-5 dogs near the lift who attack residents when they come out. The same happened when my wife, our 5-year-old son and myself stepped out to buy vegetables. All the dogs started running towards us. We were scared,” Chauhan said, accusing Bhavna of “provoking the situation by feeding dogs near the lift”.Chauhan said he picked up a stick lying nearby in “self-defence” to chase the dogs. “I did not beat her; I was merely chasing the dogs. They have become a nuisance in society,” he said.Bhavna’s injuries, however, state otherwise, as does CCTV footage. It shows a man running at Bhavna and whacking her with a stick twice. It’s this assault that led to her injuries. Bhavna’s mother, who was at home dialled 112 and animal rights activists. Bhavna’s husband was away at work in Faridabad at the time.Bitter differences over community dogs among residents have led to several attacks on dog feeders across Delhi-NCR. While activists accuse local administrations of not doing enough to resolve differences and shield feeders, on whom success of the animal birth control programme depends, the opposing view cites increasing cases of dog bites and advocates removal of strays from societies altogether.Gaur City 14th Avenue does not have an AOA yet. According to residents of the society, no designated feeding points have been set up inside the society.
