Man fires at dogs with air rifle, pellet hits woman

Mumbai: A 28-year-old woman, working as a house-help, was injured after a pellet fired from an air rifle by a senior citizen trying to scare away stray dogs hit her right thigh in Vasai on Friday. The accused Michael Coutinho (72) later rushed Sarita Bhoir to the hospital in his car. Bhoir underwent a procedure to remove the pellet that had pierced her thigh. Bhoir, a resident of Saloli village in Vasai was heading home after finishing her work at around 11.30 am. Bhoir uses a bicycle to travel. As she was cycling towards her home, Coutinho was standing at the gate of his bungalow in Giriz village. He had an air rifle that was aimed toward stray dogs. He fired the pellet towards the strays but it hit Bhoir who was on the bicycle. She fell off the bicycle and screamed in pain. Coutinho along with his wife rushed Bhoir to the hospital. He footed the hospital bills. An FIR was registered but no arrests were made.