DLF Gurgaon: Primal fears
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DLF Gurgaon: Primal fears

One of Gurgaon’s most plush addresses, DLF Phase I, lies in the grip of terror, as ravenous monkeys enter homes at will, leaving residents petrified.

DLF Gurgaon: Primal fears

It’s a party all right, but the guests come uninvited. Residents of DLF Phase I, Gurgaon, are living a nightmare as monkeys enter their homes, open refrigerators, throw things around, terrorise the occupants and retire just as wilfully, leaving behind a trail of destruction.   

The problem is particularly pronounced in Blocks E, G and H. The menace, which was initially restricted to the locality’s roadside kiosks, has become a regular threat to the dwellers of one of the city’s plushest colonies.

Residents complain that hordes of monkeys — and not just one or two — scale the walls to enter the societies, making it difficult for residents to move around freely. Recounting one such experience for City Spidey, Amandeep Singh, a resident of Block G, says, “It was a pleasant evening, and we had planned dinner on our terrace, when a group of monkeys appeared from nowhere to ruin our evening. They kept chasing the kids and servants around, and we had to finally call off the party.”

A local vegetable seller, who visits the colony every day, has had to deal with the menace too. “These mischief makers often scamper away with fruits and vegetables, and I can do nothing about it,” laments the vendor. The monkeys often make off with daily food items such as bread, butter and biscuits, complain other kiosk owners.

It’s been over a year since the residents started complaining about the monkeys. They hired the services of monkey catchers and their langurs, but to no avail.

Sudhir Kapoor, general secretary of the DLF City RWA, explains, “Monkey catchers haven't helped. They do capture the monkeys and leave them in their natural habitat far from here, but the these return to residential areas in search of food.”

Apparently, the monkeys are no longer scared of the langurs either. Rita Nayar, a resident, says, “The maintenance department has kept langurs to deal with the problem, but monkeys are no longer scared of them. Even walking around the colony has become a problem. One day, my son was coming back from his tuition, when a monkey snatched his bag to look for food.”

Recounting yet another terrifying experience, GS Johar, a resident of Block E, says, “I went to the terrace to check the overhead water tank and a group of monkeys sitting there attacked me. I was injured badly but managed to run away.”

“These monkeys are quite aggressive and they are roaming around freely in a residential complex. It’s getting scary and residents need to think twice before stepping out. The civic authorities, on the other hand, have not shown any eagerness to help the residents so far,” says municipal councillor Rama Rani Rathi.