Tragic Death Sparks Urban Wildlife Crisis Debate
A senior Indian politician has died in a horrific incident after being attacked by a swarm of monkeys at his New Delhi residence. Surinder Singh Bajwa, who served as deputy mayor in the Indian capital, sustained devastating head injuries during the confrontation with the animals.
The Fatal Incident
The tragedy unfolded when Bajwa was on the first-floor terrace of his home and a group of rhesus macaques swarmed the balcony. According to neighbours who witnessed the event, the politician attempted to scare the marauding troop away but lost his balance amid the chaos.
He fell from the terrace and was rushed to Apollo Hospital in critical condition. Despite medical intervention, Bajwa succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Growing Urban Wildlife Problem
Delhi faces a significant challenge with its population of thousands of rhesus macaques, which regularly invade homes, temples and rooftops across the city. The problem has created constant safety concerns for residents, with many reporting frequent encounters with the animals.
Perminder Kaur, a resident from a west Delhi neighbourhood near the deputy mayor's house, described the ongoing issue: "Bands of monkeys routinely lay siege to our house, forcing us to keep the doors locked and to remain vigilant at all times."
Political Response and Previous Measures
Following Bajwa's death in 2007, pressure mounted on city authorities to address the monkey menace comprehensively. The incident prompted calls for immediate action, with suggestions ranging from relocation programmes to stronger wildlife control measures.
Government minister Dr Harsh Vardhan paid tribute to Bajwa, describing him as "one of the most honest, sincere and dedicated workers of the party who worked selflessly with utmost honesty for the party, society and the nation."
The location of Bajwa's house near a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, may have contributed to the concentration of monkeys in the area. Hundreds of rhesus macaques gathered daily at the temple to be fed by tourists and devotees.
Previous Control Attempts
Local government workers had previously employed unconventional methods to combat the problem, including hiring a fearsome monkey called Rambo to protect health and urban development ministries. However, this approach proved unsuccessful as Rambo was eventually seen off after repeated confrontations with other monkey troops.
Delhi mayor Arti Mehra revealed the scale of the capture operation following Bajwa's death: "Since May this year we have managed to capture 1,250 monkeys, of whom over 450 were caught in the last 20 days."
The city planned to increase monkey-catching teams from two to twelve and advertised for experienced catchers from Tamil Nadu and Assam states where successful programmes had been implemented.
The courts in Delhi were subsequently forced to address how to manage the growing macaque population, with debates continuing between advocates of humane capture and those demanding tougher measures to protect public safety.
