Dog video triggers arrest, political showdown in Phagwara

In a latest development in the controversial episode involving a viral video of a mentally challenged man allegedly seen with a dog in Ward No. 13 of the Phagwara’s Boparai area, the police have sent the dog’s owner to 14 days judicial custody after securing three days remand, while a political storm surrounding the case continues to intensify.

The video, which surfaced recently, but is being claimed by some to be over an year old, sparked outrage and prompted registration of the case against one identified individual and two unidentified persons. The authorities have confirmed that investigation was ongoing and further action would be taken based on evidence collected during the probe.

The matter has taken a sharp political turn, with Independent councillor Kanchan Bala and her husband Gurpreet Gopi coming under public scrutiny after rival political figures demanded action. Addressing a press conference alongside former civic body chairman Dara Singh Rai and other prominent residents, the councillor described the incident as “deeply shameful” and an affront to humanity. However, she strongly denied any involvement of her family, alleging that the controversy was being fuelled out of political vendetta following the municipal elections.

Kanchan Bala asserted that the police had the technical means, including call detail records and mobile tracking, to determine accountability and urged the authorities to conduct a fair and transparent investigation. She maintained that if Gurpreet Gopi was found guilty in any way, he should face strict legal consequences, but condemned what she termed as deliberate attempts to malign her family’s reputation.

During the press conference, counter-allegations were also levelled. It was claimed that a political opponent associated with the ruling party had been occupying municipal land illegally for the past 16 years without formal permission while carrying out cattle service activities. Questions were raised regarding how a no objection certificate was allegedly issued during municipal elections if such encroachment exists. A demand was made for the Punjab Government and the Municipal Corporation to investigate the matter and reclaim any illegally occupied public land.

Reacting to allegations, rival leader Vivek Sharma stated that the issue was not politically motivated, but aimed at securing justice for the mentally challenged victim. He clarified that the name publicly mentioned was allegedly disclosed by the victim himself and denied making baseless accusations.

Regarding the land occupation charge, he acknowledged that cattle service had been provided at the site for years, but admitted that no official permission had been obtained for doing so.

Adding another layer to the case, the victim’s uncle claimed that his nephew was mentally unstable and had been missing from home for more than a week. He alleged that the youth was being used for ulterior motives and insisted that Gurpreet Gopi had no role in the incident. He appealed to the police to ensure an impartial investigation.

As the probe continues, the case has evolved into a complex intersection of criminal investigation, political rivalry and allegations of defamation, with the authorities under pressure to establish the facts and restore public confidence.