Tragedy struck when a public official met a fatal end following an attack by a marauding troop of monkeys at his residence.
The victim, Surinder Singh Bajwa, who held the position of deputy mayor in New Delhi, India, was on the terrace of his home when a group of rhesus macaques invaded the balcony. Despite his attempts to shoo them away, he lost his footing amidst the chaos and tragically fell. He was swiftly taken to Apollo Hospital in critical condition with severe head injuries and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries the next day.
New Delhi is home to numerous rhesus macaques, known to frequently swarm residential properties, temples, and rooftops, posing a constant danger to residents. Following the 2007 incident, there was a surge in demands for action to address the monkey problem. The authorities faced mounting pressure to tackle the issue decisively, with proposals ranging from relocation initiatives to stricter wildlife control measures.
In a tribute to the deceased, government minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan remarked, “Bajwaji was a dedicated and honest member of the party who tirelessly served with integrity for the betterment of the party, society, and the nation, particularly focusing on uplifting the underprivileged.”
Reflecting on the monkey infestation, Perminder Kaur, a resident in a west Delhi neighborhood near the deputy mayor’s residence, shared with the Irish Times, “Groups of monkeys regularly besiege our home, compelling us to keep our doors locked and remain vigilant at all times.”
The official’s house was situated near a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the revered Hindu monkey deity, where hundreds of rhesus macaques congregated daily to be fed by tourists and devotees.
Prior to the unfortunate incident, local authorities had enlisted a formidable monkey named Rambo for several months to safeguard the health and urban development ministries. Rambo engaged in altercations with various monkey groups but was eventually overwhelmed and driven away after repeated confrontations.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Delhi’s courts grappled with managing the escalating macaque population, with some advocating for humane capture methods while others pushed for more stringent actions. Following Bajwa’s demise, Delhi mayor Arti Mehra informed The Hindu Times, “Since May this year, we have successfully captured 1,250 monkeys, with over 450 apprehended in the last 20 days.”
Mehra added, “We are considering advertising in newspapers in Tamil Nadu and Assam, as we have had positive experiences with monkey-catchers from these regions. There are plans to expand the monkey-catching teams from two to 12, and the capture rate has also been increased.”