Shocking: Prominent Politician Dies In Brutal Clash With A Swarm Of Monkeys That Ambushed Him At Home

By Swift Reporter

A New Delhi politician suffered a tragic death after a violent encounter with a troop of monkeys at his home, reigniting longstanding concerns about the capital’s escalating human–wildlife conflict.

Surinder Singh Bajwa, then serving as Deputy Mayor of Delhi, was on the first-floor terrace of his residence when a group of rhesus macaques stormed the balcony. According to neighbours, Bajwa attempted to frighten the animals away but lost his balance in the commotion and fell. He was rushed to Apollo Hospital in critical condition with severe head injuries and died the following day.

Delhi has long grappled with a ballooning population of rhesus macaques, which routinely invade homes, offices, temples and rooftops — often leaving residents on edge. Bajwa’s death in 2007 intensified public pressure on city authorities to act decisively, with proposals ranging from structured relocation programmes to tougher wildlife management strategies.

Paying tribute, then–Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan described Bajwa as “one of the most honest, sincere and dedicated workers of the party,” adding that his death was “an irreparable loss to Delhi” and that he would be deeply missed.

Residents in Bajwa’s neighbourhood said the threat posed by the animals had been growing for years. “Bands of monkeys routinely lay siege to our house, forcing us to keep doors locked and remain vigilant at all times,” Perminder Kaur, who lives nearby, told The Irish Times.

Bajwa’s house is located near a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god — a site that draws hundreds of devotees and tourists daily. The constant feeding of macaques around the temple has long been cited as a major factor in the animals’ aggressive behaviour and population surge.

Authorities had experimented with various control measures even before Bajwa’s death. At one point, a trained langur named Rambo was hired to patrol government buildings, engaging in frequent skirmishes with invading macaque troops before eventually being overwhelmed.

In the years following the tragedy, Delhi’s courts and civic leaders were repeatedly pressed to devise sustainable solutions. Former Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra told The Hindu Times that the municipality had captured 1,250 monkeys within months, noting that over 450 had been caught in just 20 days.

“We are planning to advertise in newspapers in Tamil Nadu and Assam, as we’ve had good experience with monkey-catchers from these states,” she said, adding that the number of monkey-catching teams would be expanded from two to twelve and that capture rates had been increased to attract more specialists.

Bajwa’s death remains one of the most sobering reminders of the severe risks posed by Delhi’s unchecked macaque population. Despite years of debate, the city continues to search for lasting solutions that balance public safety, animal welfare, and the complexities of urban wildlife coexistence.