Monkey menace sparks fear in Khanapur, residents plan protest

Residents of Khanapur and nearby villages are grappling with a growing monkey menace, which has caused daily attacks, injuries, and property damage. Despite a woman’s death last year, local officials have yet to take significant action to curb the issue

Nirmal: Residents of Khanapur town and nearby villages continue to suffer from the growing monkey menace, which remains unchecked even a year after a woman’s death caused by a similar incident.

Troops of monkeys have been invading several colonies, stealing food, damaging property, and attacking residents almost daily. Locals say they are living in constant fear and are often forced to remain indoors due to the increasing movement of the animals.

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Many residents have sustained injuries in attacks reported regularly from different parts of the town. Villagers said they were forced to hire labourers to keep monkeys away from their areas, spending large amounts from their pockets for this purpose.

Farmers in rural parts are also facing losses as monkeys destroy maize and other crops. To protect their fields, they are staying vigilant during the day and keeping watch at night. Motorists, too, expressed anger over monkeys that chase or attack them, particularly when denied food on roadsides.

Members of village development committees, youth associations, and self-help groups have drawn up plans to press officials into action. They plan to organise a massive rally in Khanapur on Tuesday, demanding that the administration take steps to curb the menace.

The problem gained serious attention last year when a 58-year-old woman, Bogoni Laxmi, died after suffering fatal injuries while trying to escape a troop of monkeys at Vidyanagar in Khanapur on October 21, 2024. Despite the tragic loss, residents said officials have failed to act effectively, leading to growing resentment.

Officials said measures were being considered to tackle the issue, including engaging trained experts to capture the animals. They attributed the rising monkey population in towns to shrinking forest areas, which force the animals to migrate to human settlements in search of food and shelter.