In a tragic incident in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, a two-month-old infant has died after reportedly being taken from his home by monkeys and dropped into a water drum. The incident occurred on Thursday when the baby, belonging to Anuj Kumar, was discovered missing from his cot on the verandah. His mother, Savita, was bathing when the monkeys entered the house and allegedly snatched the sleeping child.

This heartbreaking event serves as a grim reminder of a similar tragedy that occurred in 2022. In that instance, a four-month-old boy was killed in Bareilly after monkeys snatched him from his father's arms and threw him off the roof of a three-story house. The father was walking on the roof with the baby when a troop of monkeys attacked. Before other family members could intervene, the monkeys snatched the baby and threw him from the roof, resulting in his immediate death. The monkeys also reportedly attacked other family members and bit the father.

Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents. In January 2022, a two-month-old toddler in Baghpat was grabbed by monkeys from the terrace of his house and thrown into a water tank, where he drowned. The child was sleeping next to his grandmother when the monkeys took him. The parents reported that monkeys had previously attempted to take their child. In November 2018, a 12-day-old baby died in Uttar Pradesh after a monkey snatched him from his mother's arms. The monkey grabbed the child by the neck and fled. After being chased, the monkey abandoned the baby on a neighbor's roof, but it was too late; the infant had suffered severe injuries and was declared dead at a local hospital.

These repeated incidents of monkeys attacking and abducting children have sparked public outcry. Authorities are urged to take action to address the problem of monkey menace in residential areas. These incidents highlight the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife, particularly in areas where urbanization encroaches on animal habitats. As encounters between humans and monkeys become more frequent, the risk of such tragic events increases, emphasizing the need for effective wildlife management strategies and public awareness.