The dog is being treated at the Government Veterinary Hospital in Jayanagar

BENGALURU: Exasperated by a band of street dogs creating nuisance in front of his house, an 83-year-old retired psychology professor and former Indian Air Force (IAF) flight lieutenant on Monday morning allegedly pumped three pellets into one of the canines with his air gun and injured it.

L Shamsundar, a resident of Jayanagar 5th Block who had earlier worked with Nimhans , was arrested within hours. The dog was shifted to a veterinary hospital where it’s undergoing treatment and is out of danger.

Shamsundar, who lives with his wife in their Jayanagar house, was later released on bail. Police recovered two air guns from him. Police said the incident took place near Indian Overseas Bank’s Jayanagar branch on 9th Main, 44th Cross, 5th Block around 8.30am.

Passersby were startled by the gunshots, followed by a whimpering stray dog writhing in pain with blood oozing out of his stomach in front of Shamsundar’s house. Soon, the public gathered and fed water to it. Alerted by passersby, Praveen Kumar L, an activist from We Save All, rushed to the spot.

“The dog was in a bad shape and bleeding profusely. Bundling it into an autorickshaw, we shifted it to a private pet clinic and later to government veterinary hospital, Jayanagar. Doctors will decide how to operate on the dog and remove the pellets that are struck below the spinal cord,” he said.

Based on a complaint filed by an animal activist, Jayanagar police booked a case under sections 11 and 12 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. “Investigation revealed Shamsundar was upset as stray dogs littered outside his main gate, where he had kept flower pots. On Monday morning, he saw a dog standing near a pot, lost his cool and shot at it,” Jayanagar police said.



In Video: Bengaluru man shoots stray dog with air gun, FIR registered