A horrifying case of animal aggression has emerged from Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, where a man allegedly set his pit bull on an 11-year-old boy. The boy, Hamza, was left injured and terrified as bystanders filmed the incident instead of intervening.
The shocking episode took place around 10 pm on July 17 in the PMGP MHADA Colony. Hamza and a few friends were playing inside a stationary auto-rickshaw when they noticed a pit bull nearby. The children reportedly became excited and began shouting, “Pit bull!” Their reactions caught the attention of the dog’s owner, 43-year-old Mohammad Sohail Hasan Khan, who then approached the rickshaw with the dog.
Minor Recalls the Incident
As the other children fled in panic, Hamza was unable to get away in time. The dog was allowed into the rickshaw, and what followed was both disturbing and painful. “The dog bit me. Then, I ran away. He even grabbed my clothes,” Hamza recounted after the attack. He added, “They were just filming the attack,” referring to onlookers who failed to assist.
Video footage of the assault shows Hamza trapped in the vehicle with the pit bull beside him. Instead of stepping in, Khan reportedly laughed as the frightened child begged for help. The situation escalated quickly — the dog bit the boy on his chin and hand before chasing him outside the auto, further injuring him. “I was very scared,” Hamza later said, sharing how helpless he felt while being attacked.
Despite the violent nature of the incident, Khan did not restrain the dog nor did he intervene. He allegedly remained seated inside the rickshaw, amused by the boy’s distress, as per multiple eyewitness accounts and the viral video circulating on social media.
Victim’s Father Registers the Case with Police
The boy’s father approached the police soon after the incident. Based on his complaint, Mankhurd Police registered a case under Sections 291 (negligent act likely to endanger human life), 125 (intentional harm), and 125A (harm caused by a dangerous animal) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials confirmed that Khan was later issued a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNS, following which he was arrested but subsequently released.
The video has since gone viral, triggering strong reactions online. Social media users slammed both the dog owner and the passive bystanders. One user commented, “Owner laughs as he lets his pit bull attack a young boy, who gets bitten multiple times before escaping.” Many have called for stronger regulations regarding the ownership of certain dog breeds.
The controversy also reignites debates surrounding aggressive breeds like pit bulls. While their temperament is shaped by upbringing and training, pit bulls have often been involved in violent incidents. Notably, a recent advisory issued on March 12, 2024, by the Centre suggested banning 23 dog breeds, including pit bulls. However, the advisory was challenged by several NGOs and stayed by courts across the country.
Similar Attacks By Pit Bull were Seen in the Past
Past incidents lend weight to public concerns. In one case from August last year, a seven-year-old boy died after being mauled by a pit bull in Anjuna, Goa. That tragedy led to the state imposing a ban on certain breeds. Earlier this year in Mumbai, a man received a four-month prison sentence after his husky bit a neighbor in a lift — reinforcing the legal accountability pet owners face for public safety breaches.
In Hamza’s case, while the injuries were not life-threatening, the emotional trauma remains significant. He pleaded with the dog’s owner during the attack, but “he kept laughing,” Hamza said, recalling the incident that has now caught national attention.
Authorities are continuing their investigation. The case has amplified the call for stricter pet ownership laws and greater awareness around the responsibilities of dog owners, particularly when handling breeds with a history of aggression.
