Delhi cop assaults woman activist protesting SC order to remove dogs | Watch

A Delhi policewoman was caught on camera slapping and shoving a woman animal rights activist inside a bus during protests against the Supreme Court’s order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR, prompting outrage online and fresh questions over crowd-control tactics amid intensifying demonstrations across the capital, according to an FPJ report.

It is really unfortunate that peaceful protests are being handled in such an authoritarian manner. @DelhiPolice needs to excersize restraint and show a degree of sensitivity. The right to protest is a fundamental and Constitutional right intrinsically embedded in Article-19 -… pic.twitter.com/oNMMHSbvA0

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— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 12, 2025

Footage widely shared on social media shows several detained women inside a crowded bus as an argument breaks out, following which a female police officer strikes a protester with open-handed slaps and pushes her back as others attempt to de-escalate the confrontation, FPJ reported.

The clip, filmed by a protester inside the bus, has been circulated with claims it was recorded in Delhi during detentions linked to demonstrations against the top court’s directive on stray dogs. The publication added that the bus appeared packed with detainees as police tried to maintain order before the incident escalated.

Congress leader and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari condemned the handling of the protests in a post on X, calling it “really unfortunate that peaceful protests are being handled in such an authoritarian manner,” and urging the Delhi Police to exercise restraint while underscoring the constitutional right to protest under Article 19.

FPJ highlighted a post by an NCP-SP spokesperson alleging the police were “slapping, detaining and punching women” and likening the episode to prior crackdowns, reflecting charged political rhetoric around the protests.

The viral video surfaced amid protests in parts of Delhi that began after the Supreme Court directed authorities to remove all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR and relocate them to shelters within a tight window, a move the bench described as necessary for public safety, according to national coverage of the ruling and its fallout.

News outlets have reported that police detained activists near central Delhi landmarks, with buses used to transport detainees as demonstrations continued for a second day following the verdict. A report summarising the court’s stance quoted observations that streets must be made free of stray dogs swiftly, while animal welfare groups warned that mass displacement would be cruel and ineffective without adequate shelter capacity and sustained birth control measures.

Social media reaction ranged from demands for action against officers to calls for stringent measures against protesters accused of obstructing law enforcement, underscoring a polarised public mood.

Coverage across major outlets has documented how the Supreme Court ruling has split opinion, families affected by dog attacks and some civic leaders back the move for safety, while animal welfare groups, vets and public figures argue it risks cruelty, overcrowded shelters and could backfire without robust sterilisation and vaccination programmes.

As protests gathered at central venues like India Gate and Connaught Place, police warned that obstructing enforcement could invite legal action, with reports of FIRs and detentions following attempted assemblies.