Aarey residents form squads to catch ‘monkey man’

UP IN ARMS: This group patrols Aarey Colony at night

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Residents of Aarey Colony are a scared lot ever since rumours of a monkey man raping women started doing the rounds. The locals have now formed squads to patrol the area at night. The squad’s job is to ensure the safety of residents and try and catch the “monkey man”, who, they believe, is trying to rape women and kill them. However, the city police have rubbished the monkey man story, calling it a rumour.

Several youth groups, equipped with bamboos and hockey sticks, patrol the area at night. “We keep watch on trees, rooftops and also check if all houses are properly shut at night,” said a local, adding they have cut the top branches of several trees. “We have heard the monkey man, who wears only underwear, has oil all over his body and jumps from one tree to another, making it difficult to catch him. Moreover, he walks and runs like a monkey,” he said.

Stories of the monkey man spread from the western suburbs last month. Unconfirmed reports say the “monkey man” has raped several women in the western suburbs. But not a single police statistic proves this.

At Aarey Colony, the residents avoid stepping outside their houses after 8 pm. Moreover, they have put bulbs outside their houses to identify any stranger in the locality. Several school-going girls and boys claimed to have seen a monkey man in their area. However, their statements could not be corroborated when the police tried to verify them. So far, the Ghatkopar police have registered four cases of spreading rumours.

“We have not been told to form any special squad to look for a monkey man,” said a police officer.

Panic causes youth’s death
Last week, one person died in Tulaskarwadi in Kandivali (W) after rumours of a monkey man caused panic. Rajesh Chavan (25) was at his in-laws’ home having dinner when locals of the nearby Sai Nagar began yelling that they had seen the monkey man. As the family rushed out, Chavan fell, breaking his spinal cord and died. TNN

The Times of India, March 2, 2012