Shimla Residents Protest Rising Monkey and Stray Dog Attacks After Woman’s Death

Fed up with the growing threat of monkeys, langurs and stray dogs, residents under the banner of the Shimla Nagarik Sabha staged a protest outside the Municipal Corporation office on Monday, demanding immediate action to make the city safer.

The protesters also sought ₹5 lakh compensation for the family of a woman who died after being attacked by a monkey in Shimla’s Cemetery area. They demanded strict legal action against those who feed monkeys and stray dogs in public places, identification of dangerous dogs, monkeys and langurs, and their relocation to natural habitats.

Residents urged the corporation to launch a sterilisation drive on a war footing, with effective monitoring. They also called for special surveillance and regular drives in vulnerable areas to ensure public safety.

Jagmohan Thakur, president of the Sabha, said attacks on people — especially women, children and senior citizens — had become a regular feature. “These animals are frequently injuring people,” he said. Recalling the recent tragedy, he said a woman in the Cemetery area had gone to the roof of her house to check the water supply when monkeys attacked her. She fell from the roof and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital. “The incident is extremely tragic and serious,” he added.

Thakur said that though several memorandums had been submitted and appeals made to the corporation, an effective solution was still awaited. He added that people feed these animals at public places, leading them to establish permanent settlements in several locations. “It has become very difficult for pedestrians to pass through such areas where animals are being fed publicly,” he asserted.

He warned the corporation that if it failed to address the issue immediately, the Sabha would launch a mass movement. After the protest, a delegation led by Thakur met Municipal Commissioner Sachin Kanwal and submitted a memorandum of their demands.