Premshankar Rai, a security guard at a society at Kandivali (East), was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly inserting a rod inside the vagina of a stray dog and pulling out her intestines. Bindu, who had recently delivered seven puppies, died of the trauma and Rai was released on a bail bond of Rs 3,000 on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old worked at Aashirwad Building in Asha Nagar, Thakur complex, and the incident took place in the wee hours of August 16. Animal activist Abhishek Kapdoskar, who filed the FIR, volunteers with the anti-cruelty team of the NGO Mumbai Animal Association (MAA).

He said MAA's trustee Nisha Jain, who takes care of the strays in Asha Nagar, found Bindu in the building complex, lying in pool of blood with her intestines dangling out.

"This was at around 10.30 am and she rushed Bindu to Dr Premal Darji who performed a two hour surgery," says Kapdoskar. "However, Bindu's condition was critical as a sharp object had been purposefully inserted inside her vagina, causing fatal damage to the intestines and uterus." Bindu died around 3.30 pm on the same day.

Jain began investigating the matter and scanned CCTV footage from nearby buildings.

She was able establish that the incident occurred between 2.30 am to 3.30 am, as footage timed at 3.30 am showed her leaving Aashirwad building with something dangling behind her.

Armed with this evidence, Kapdoskar approached Samta Nagar Police station on August 19. "The cops were very helpful and Assistant Police Inspector Raviraj Jadhav immediately began a crack down," he says.

Two security guards — one from Shraddha Society and other from Aashirwad — came under the scanner and both were interrogated. "Soon, Rai spilled the beans. He said Bindu had barked at him, which made him lose his balance and fall down," said a police officer. "In anger, he assaulted her."

Rai was booked for killing an animal and cruelty. He has been sacked by the housing society. Senior Police Inspector Raju Kasbe said they will continue to investigate the matter.

Animal welfare officer Saurabh Edwankar said that though MAA comes across many cases of animal cruelty, "this case has stunned us to the core and we cant believe how can any man in his right senses could carry out such a heinous act."