Mandsaur Hospital Jewellery ‘Theft’ Mystery Solved After CCTV Video Shows Stray Dog Carrying Bag

A missing bag containing gold and silver jewellery worth around INR 4 lakh from the surgical ward of Mandsaur District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh turned out to have an unusual explanation. CCTV video reviewed by police showed a stray dog picking up the bag and carrying it away through the hospital premises. Police later traced the bag and recovered the valuables intact.

The bag belonged to Latabai Valmiki, a resident of Kayampur under the Nahargarh police station limits, who was at the hospital while her son was being treated for an arm injury, NDTV reported. She had kept jewellery and around INR 2,000 in cash in the bag near her child's bed. It went missing sometime between 1 am and 6 am on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Surat Viral Video: Stray Dogs Seen Near Pregnant Women, Newborns Inside SMIMER Hospital.

Stray Dog Takes Bag With INR 4 Lakh Jewellery Inside Mandsaur Hospital

CCTV Reveals What Happened

After Latabai approached City Kotwali police and reported the missing bag, Head Constable Ajay Solanki was tasked with tracing it. Investigators examined CCTV footage from cameras installed across the hospital. The footage showed a dog entering the surgical ward at around 4 am, picking up the bag in its mouth and leaving the area.

Police then followed the animal's movement through footage from other cameras installed across the hospital complex. The trail eventually led them to an open area, where the missing bag was located.

Jewellery And Cash Found Intact

The recovered bag reportedly contained the gold and silver ornaments and cash that Latabai had reported missing. The jewellery included a silver waist belt, silver anklets, a gold mangalsutra, two gold rings, silver ghungroos, gold beads, earrings, a nose ring and silver toe rings.

After completing the necessary formalities, police returned the recovered valuables to Latabai on Monday evening. Reports said the jewellery and cash were intact.

Kotwali police station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore said: "Latabai, a resident of Kayampur under the Nahargarh police station area, had come to the district hospital for the treatment of her child. In the morning, she realised that the bag containing her valuable jewellery, which she had carefully kept in a storage cabinet near her child, was missing. She came to the police station in the evening and informed us about it".

Police Explain Why Dog May Have Taken Bag

Rathore said: "During the examination of CCTV footage, at around 4 am a dog was seen entering the area and carrying the bag away. When Latabai was questioned, she told us that biscuits and some other food items were also kept inside the bag. It is possible that the dog picked up the bag because of the smell of the food. With the help of other CCTV cameras, the police searched for the dog and the missing bag. By following its movement, the police succeeded in recovering the bagsaid," Rathore said.

The incident was reported from Mandsaur District Hospital during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The case drew attention after CCTV footage provided police with an unexpected explanation for what initially appeared to be a conventional theft.

Hospital Security Under Scrutiny

While the valuables were recovered without reported financial loss, the incident has raised questions about security arrangements at the government hospital.

The presence of a stray dog inside the surgical ward and its ability to move through the premises without being stopped has also highlighted concerns over stray-animal control and access management. In this case, CCTV surveillance proved crucial in tracing the bag and recovering the jewellery.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2026 05:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).