A protest over stray dogs in Maharashtra’s Nashik district reached the office of the Niphad Nagar Panchayat on 15 September 2026, when Yuva Sena district chief Vikram Randhave and supporters released stray dogs inside the chief officer’s office. The protesters alleged that repeated complaints about stray dogs in Niphad had not resulted in action. They said the growing number of dogs had led to dog-bite incidents and difficulties for residents. The dogs were brought to the office in sacks before being released. Randhave demanded sterilisation drives, arrangements to catch stray dogs and other population-control measures. Maharashtra recorded 15,19,913 dog-bite cases in 2025, according to state Public Health Department data cited by The Indian Express. The Niphad civic administration later assured protesters that sterilisation and population-control measures were being undertaken.