A policeman aims a pebble at monkeys at Chowk Sabzi Bazaar in Patna. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Oct. 18: Failing to contain the soaring population of monkeys in their area, the residents of Chowk Sabzi Bazaar have come up with a unique idea — to cage themselves in to escape the rampage of these primates.

They have transformed their houses into cages so that while the monkeys go on a rampage outside, the residents are protected by staying behind the bars.

Around 1,000 families and shops in the area have put up iron fences on the roofs and balconies of their houses. The residents said even though their houses look like jails from outside, there is no other way to save themselves.

Even Patna City Chowk police station is not spared either. Sub-inspector K.P. Choudhary and other policemen, who are used to fighting criminals, are struggling to win the battle against the monkey. Almost every day some policemen or the other is deprived of his tiffin, because it is stolen by the monkeys.

Pappu Kumar, a fruit seller in the area, claims that he is the worst sufferer. “These monkeys have made my life hell. I lose four to five dozen bananas almost every day,” he said.

Ashok Jha, a guard at Shakambhari Complex in the area, said he has been bitten several times by the monkeys.

Residents of the area said a doctor and a newly married woman died here around 10 years ago when they met with an accident while trying to run away from these monkeys.

Physician Dr Dilip Kumar who lives in this locality said about seven to eight persons visit him every month after being bitten by the monkeys.

The police claim they too are helpless.

“What can we do? We are victims ourselves! A group of monkeys always sit on the roof of the police station,” Choudhary said. He added that the cops keep firecrackers to defend themselves.