Bandipora villagers say lives made ‘hell’ by monkey menace

Bandipora, Aug 19: “No one is taking our pleas seriously,” say residents of Ahatmulla village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, who have long battled a worsening monkey menace.

Located near the forest belt in Chiternaar, villagers say they have repeatedly appealed to the administration and wildlife officials for help, but their cries have gone unheard.

“Each year the population of monkeys grows, and we have nowhere to go for safety,” lamented Maimoona Begum, a resident, during a protest outside the forest division office on Tuesday.

The villagers said they had approached “every authority” but no one had acted. “If they can’t do anything, then relocate us. We can’t even keep our doors and windows open,” another woman said.

Despite precautions, villagers said monkeys break into homes through chimneys and steal food. With most men working as labourers and orchardists, the women said agriculture too had been devastated.

“Children can’t play outside. Even stepping out for Fajr prayers or fetching bread from bakeries is a nightmare,” said one villager.

Orchards have been ruined, while monkey attacks on residents are on the rise. “This scar on my eyebrow is from a monkey attack while I was gardening,” said an elderly woman.

The villagers said they had exhausted every channel of appeal. “Either get rid of the monkeys or relocate us. Living here has become hell,” they added.