A man who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol stole a Labrador near a liquor store off Babaleshwar Road in Vijayapura on Monday, leading to a strange outcome. In swift action, the bar owners rescued the dog in minutes, apprehended the man, identified only by his first name Somu, and bundled him into that very dog’s kennel.
A video of the incident showing a middle-aged Somu crouching inside the kennel and the dog chained a few inches away has gone viral on social media. The incident left locals and bar patrons torn between amusement and dismay.
The man remained inside the kennel for nearly five hours and he was brought out to safety following concerns expressed by rights activists.
Sources said bar staff saw Somu stealing the dog, rushed to its rescue and returned the pet to its owners. Instead of bringing the incident to the notice of police officers, the bar staff allegedly took him to the kennel and pushed him in and locked it up in a case of instant justice, which evoked condemnation and debate in equal measure.
Police said they were unaware of the incident, indicating that an official investigation may be warranted before offering comment.
