Ahmedabad: Forest department officials on Tuesday rescued three monkeys from Pragatinagar and confined them in cages following a series of monkey bite incidents reported by residents. Locals claimed that nearly 10 people were attacked by monkeys over the past few days.“Most incidents occurred between 3pm and 6pm. One monkey was found to be particularly aggressive, and we suspect it may be responsible for several bite cases. The rise in temperature could also have triggered agitation,” said a state forest department official. Residents recounted their traumatic experiences and urged authorities to take strict action. Yogesh Patel, a physiotherapist from the area, said a monkey attacked him while he was walking on the road, biting him on the back and thigh. “I required five stitches on my back and four on my thigh. It will take time to recover,” he said. Vijay Shah, chairman of Pragatinagar Society, said around 10 monkey bite cases have been reported in the area since Saturday. “I step out of my house only with a stick in my hand,” he said, adding that forest officials have been patrolling the locality. Another victim, Kamlesh Acharya, said he was attacked while returning from a morning walk at Pragatinagar Garden around 8am on Saturday. “The monkey bit my right leg so severely that the bone was exposed. I lost a significant amount of blood,” he said. Local sweepers have also expressed concern over the menace. One sweeper suffered about 10 stitches on his leg after a monkey bite. All victims said the monkeys attacked without provocation and caught them by surprise. Regular walkers have curtailed their routines, while even passersby near trees and shaded areas remain alert to monkey movement.
