BARAMULLA: Troops of monkeys have created panic in several areas of border town Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district for a month and they also damaged the ceiling of two government run schools.
Local people of the area said that monkeys invading from nearby forests have created panic among the local people of several villages of this border town and not only they are eating, destroying the crops of local people, they also damaged the ceiling of two government run schools including government middle school and government secondary school Uri, both the school buildings were constructed by an NGO after 2005 earthquake.
They said that these monkeys are entering residential houses also and are damaging the properties and other goods. They said that flocks of monkeys not only roaming free in the Uri town, they attacked several school children in adjacent villages including in Mohra, Bandi and in other areas in past, but after several complaints no steps have been taken by the government to keep them away from residential areas.
Range officer wildlife department Mohammad Altaf Koul who personally visited the spot on Thursday said that there is need of awareness among the people, the monkeys are visiting in residential areas in search of food, as the schools started children and teachers are dumping their waste food around the school premises and the monkeys are attracted to these sports.
The area is under wildlife but we cannot catch these animals, but we can keep them away by fire checkers, drums etc, but the main thing is that people should dump their waste food very far, so that monkeys can eat but not visit residential areas. In the next few days we will organise some awareness camps in the area, where we will explain it among the people.

Reader correspondent