Monkeys ‘kill’ cow, terrorise people in Jharkhand

FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS, MONKEYS HAVE BEEN CREATING HAVOC IN THE 13 VILLAGES OF BAGHMARA BLOCK IN DHANBAD DISTRICT

you kill a cow, you might end up in jail in Bjpruled states. But what happens when monkeys kill one? They get away with it. That’s what is happening in 13 villages of Rajgunj panchayat in Bjp-ruled Jharkhand.

Last week, Raju Agrawal, resident of Rajgunj Bazar area, allegedly lost his cow to the simians. The apes bit his cow, which led to its death, the poor man said, and blamed forest officials for not taking deterrent action.

For about two years, a tribe of 30-35 monkeys have been creating havoc in the villages in Baghmara block of Dhanbad district—attacking and injuring people and pets, snatching edibles, taking away clothes left to dry, damaging household items and roof tiles. On the news of their arrival, residents rush to shut themselves inside their homes , despite the sweltering temperature —making it a curfew-like situation.

On Wednesday, Malti (10) and her brother Mohan (8), of Meirakully village, were getting ready for school when suddenly the simians arrived. Their mother decided not to send the kids to school .

“We avoid stepping out of our homes or going to the roof for drying clothes or tending to crops for fear of being attacked,” Shanti Mahto, resident of Kulhi village, said.

The risk increases when villagers are returning from haats (rural weekly markets) or from the market on GT Road in Rajgunj, carrying bags containing edibles.

Victims had lodged a complaint with the chief minister’s public grievance cell on August 12, 2016 , but relief is still elusive.

Dhanbad ADM, Shashi Nath Jha, nodal officer of chief minister’s public grievance cell, said the divisional forest office was directed to take steps, but it simply slept over the matter.

Topchachi forest ranger Gorakh Nath Yadav said that a team was sent to catch the monkeys, but the troop fled with the trap nets.