Mumbai Dispute Over Pigeon Feeding Turns Violent: Man Nearly Strangled, Daughter Attacked With Iron Rod
Mumbai Dispute Over Pigeon Feeding Turns Violent: Man Nearly Strangled, Daughter Attacked With Iron Rod
What started as a quiet Sunday morning in a Mira Road residential complex turned into a disturbing act of violence, when a long-standing debate over pigeon feeding took a brutal turn. A 69-year-old man and his daughter were allegedly assaulted—he was choked and she was beaten with an iron rod—after they objected to a woman feeding pigeons in a shared space of the building.
The incident took place outside the D B Ozone housing society near Thakur Mall, when Mahendra Patel noticed a woman, identified as 56-year-old Asha Vyas, scattering grain to pigeons in the common area. Concerned about hygiene issues caused by pigeon droppings and the increasing bird population, Patel confronted her and asked her to stop. This sparked a heated argument between the two.
Hearing the commotion, Patel’s 46-year-old daughter, Premal, rushed downstairs to intervene. According to her complaint, she asked Vyas why she was verbally abusing her father, but things quickly escalated. Three individuals—identified as Somesh Agnihotri and two others yet to be named—allegedly joined Vyas and launched a physical attack.
As per Premal’s account, the group began punching and kicking both her and her father. She was struck multiple times with an iron rod, and one of the assailants reportedly attempted to choke her father during the assault.
While none of the injuries required hospitalization, police confirmed the seriousness of the complaint. “There’s no indication of any past conflict between the parties involved,” said Ranjit Andhale, Inspector at Kashimira Police Station. “We’re still verifying claims regarding the use of an iron rod. Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered under sections 118(1), 115(2), 352, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Notices have been served, but no arrests have been made yet,” he added.
CCTV footage from the premises is being reviewed, and statements from eyewitnesses are being collected as part of the ongoing investigation.
This alarming incident is just the latest in a series of conflicts arising across Mumbai over pigeon feeding practices. With increasing concerns about the health risks posed by pigeon droppings—linked to respiratory illnesses like hypersensitivity pneumonitis—the issue has gained legal and civic attention.
Just last week, the Bombay High Court declared that the act of feeding large groups of pigeons constituted a “public nuisance” and posed a health threat. The court ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to crack down on unauthorized feeding and to file FIRs against repeat offenders.
In compliance with the court’s directive, the BMC launched a citywide campaign to penalize illegal pigeon feeding. From July 3 to August 3, the civic body has fined 250 individuals, collecting a total of ₹1.24 lakh. Earlier, between July 13 and August 3, 142 people were penalized, resulting in fines amounting to ₹68,700.
The state’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, responded to growing public concern by urging caution. He advised against the “abrupt closure” of traditional pigeon-feeding zones known as kabutarkhanas, suggesting instead a controlled and compassionate approach. “Any changes in pigeon-feeding areas must go hand-in-hand with alternatives that ensure birds do not go hungry,” he stated. Meanwhile, the court has restrained the BMC from demolishing heritage kabutarkhanas, but has also firmly prohibited the act of feeding pigeons there. The debate continues in the Bombay High Court, with a writ petition still under review.
