Image
Too much monkey business?
Shops at Loi Bazaar remained shut on Saturday over local administration's failure to curb monkey menace as a 50-year-old woman fell from the roof of a three-storey building after being allegedly attacked by a monkey the previous night.

Police said Anjani Devi had gone to the terrace of her Govind Bagh house on Friday to see if there was water in the overhead tank when a few monkeys pounced on her. The woman, in her attempt to defend herself, toppled from the roof. Family members and neighbours took her to the hospital but was declared dead a day later.

Infuriated over the death of the woman, shopkeepers of Loi Bazar downed their shutters on Saturday to mark their protest. Ashok Varshney, city president of the Vyapar Mandal, said their agitation would continue till the administration initiates a monkey-catching drive.

The administration has planned certain measures to counter the growing problem. A month back, divisional commissioner Pradip Bhatnagar had announced to set up a monkey sanctuary between Agra and Mathura, and open a sterilization centre for monkeys at Churmura.

Despite civic functionaries claiming that funds have been released, these projects are haven't taken off yet. In fact, some municipal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, conceded helplessness in their pursuit to tackle the nuisance.

This is not the first incident where a monkey attack proved fatal. In November 2014, an elderly saint, identified as Mahant Lal Baba, 75, of Madhav Kunj, died in circumstances similar to Anjani Devi's case. Ashram inmates told police that the baba fell from the roof and died instantly of brain haemorrhage.

A few days later, a woman was attacked by a troop of rowdy monkeys. She fell from the second floor and broke both her legs.