A two-month-old baby has died after being snatched by a gang of monkeys in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, in what locals describe as a growing crisis of aggressive primate behaviour.
According to local reports, the infant was taken from his bed while his parents were carrying out household chores. Moments later, his absence sparked panic, and a frantic search began. The parents eventually heard faint cries from a rooftop and, upon investigation, found their baby submerged in a water drum.
The child was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Police confirmed they have opened an inquiry and sent the body for a postmortem examination.
Residents say the tragedy underscores a persistent threat from monkeys in the area. “This has been going on for years. The monkeys are aggressive, and people live in fear,” one villager told reporters, urging the authorities to act decisively to protect lives.
The incident mirrors a similar case in 2022, when another two-month-old infant was dragged from a terrace and thrown into a water tank by monkeys. At the time, speculation arose that a grieving female monkey, having lost her own baby, may have mistaken the child for hers before discarding him.
Experts note that monkey-related incidents in India are not isolated. In Eastern India, a grey langur once broke into a railway office and mimicked staff at their desks, while in Tanzania a newborn was reportedly snatched from his mother while breastfeeding outside her home. Disturbing footage from China in 2022 also showed a toddler being dragged by her hair by a monkey while playing on her scooter.
The latest death has shaken the Surajpur community, with calls mounting for urgent government intervention. Villagers are pressing for stronger measures to curb monkey invasions and prevent further tragedies.
