Pune: Boy injured in monkey attack at Shivneri Fort

PUNE: A six-year-old boy was injured after being attacked by a monkey at the Shivneri Fort in Junnar tehsil, about 92km from here, on Friday.
Ajit Shinde, Junnar forest range officer, said, "The boy, Adhyatma Ashok Gaikwad, was with his mother and uncle. He has received six stitches on his right hand and his condition is stable. His mother told us that the monkey climbed down a tree to attack a pet dog carried by a tourist. The boy went close to the monkey, leading to the attack. Our rescue team at the fort took him to a hospital."
The fort is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It has seen two incidents of honeybee attacks this year. About 180 tourists "were injured in those incidents", said a forest official.
"Presence of monkeys is not known in the place. But a new group of monkeys seems to have come there. We have urged the visitors not to give or offer food to them," Shinde added.
The rescue team at the fort has been roped in to catch the monkey, said Shinde.
Dr Yogesh Agam of the Junnar rural hospital, said, "We had to pacify the boy before stitching his injury. We have given him anti-rabies medicine. His condition is stable."
The boy and his mother came from Mumbai for the Diwali vacation and visited the fort for an outing, said the forest officials.