Cages set up to rein in Panchkula’s marauding monkeys

Irate residents have lodged several complaints with the municipal corporation, urging the officials to do something to end the reign of terror imposed by the ravenous simians over the last few months.

With marauding monkeys regularly sneaking into houses, raiding kitchens for eatables, ransacking homes and destroying gardens in residential areas, officials have set up several cages across the city to capture these mischievous miscreants who have made a nuisance of themselves.

With marauding monkeys regularly sneaking into houses, raiding kitchens for eatables, ransacking homes and destroying gardens in residential areas, officials have set up several cages across the city to capture these mischievous miscreants who have made a nuisance of themselves. (Sant Arora/HT)

Irate residents have lodged several complaints with the municipal corporation, urging the officials to do something to end the reign of terror imposed by the ravenous simians over the last few months.

Finally, officials have placed cages in sectors that have been on the receiving end of the monkey menace. However, residents say that the cages have not been camouflaged properly and it is unlikely that the clever primates will be captured.

One of the cages was clearly visible in the corner of a park in Sector 12.

Sector 12 Residents’ Welfare Association president Col SK Dutta (retd) said, “The monkeys have destroyed my lawn. The problem has been persisting for the last three months. However, they have been regular visitors to our home for the last couple of days.”

Meanwhile, former councillor and sector 12 resident Lily Bawa said, “Monkey menace has always been a problem, but these days they come in troops and raid fridges placed outside the house. In one case, a monkey even snatched a biscuit from a child.”

She said she had written to mayor Kulbhushan Goyal, who had assured her that measures will be taken to curb the menace.

Calling them uninvited guests, Sector 18 Residents’ Welfare Association president MR Syal said, “Monkeys visit us each day. If they find an open door, they slink in and destroy the kitchen and often manage to open the kitchen door. After their raids, we have to destroy all edibles.”

The issue is being reported in the trans-ghaggar sectors from Sector 23 to Sector 28 as well, as these are just next to the national highway and near the Nada Sahib Gurdwara.

They are also concentrated in Sectors 2, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18, which are close to the hills, said Citizens Welfare Association president SK Nayar.

Calling the monkey raids on homes a “regular affair”, deputy commissioner Deepak Sura said, “We received a complaint three days ago, after which the team placed cages in various areas.”