An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons following allegations that 145 monkeys died and were buried at the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown in Hathras over a week ago.
According to police, it is suspected that the monkeys entered the godown after the fumigation of grains kept there.
In a complaint, Bajrang Dal leader Harshit Gaur said that on November 19, he received information from his associate, an employee of the FCI godown, that several monkeys were allegedly being buried at the godown. He then informed the Circle Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate about the incident, the complainant said.
Kotwali Station House Officer Vijay Singh said an investigation has been initiated, and a team of veterinary doctors has been called to the site for further examination.
Gaur, Bajrang Dal’s Sah Vibhag Sangyojak for Hathras and Mathura, said: “I spoke to an employee of the FCI godown who suggested that the 145 monkeys entered the godown after fumigation of the grains on November 9 and died. He claimed that the animals were buried inside with full Hindu rituals.”
The complainant further alleged that the godown employees did not disclose the deaths of the monkeys at the time of the incident.
The case was registered at Kotwali police station under BNS sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and 291 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue). Additionally, provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act have been invoked against the accused.
In a statement, Additional District Magistrate of Hathras, Shiv Narayan Sharma, said an inquiry into the matter is ongoing.
