The incident unfolded at 6:30 a.m. on October 6 in C Block, Rajajipuram, when a motorcycle rider, later seen in a blue uniform, dismounted, loaded a rifle and fired at a stray dog.
Residents witnessed the attack and immediately recorded the exchange on their phones, a clip that spread across social media within hours.
Animal‑welfare activists condemned the act, demanding that the rider face charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Police opened an FIR and are combing the footage to identify the rider, the rifle’s provenance, and whether the weapon was legally possessed.
Lucknow has long struggled with stray‑dog management, with frequent clashes prompting calls for humane solutions over punitive measures.
The investigation will culminate in a charge sheet, after which the case may be forwarded to the court for prosecution.