GHAZIABAD: Members of right-wing Hindu outfits along with animal rights activists rescued a group of over 60 monkeys from a community centre in Ghaziabad on Tuesday, alleging the animals had been caged without food and water for the past three days.The activists claimed 69 monkeys had been thrust inside a cage at a community centre in Nandgram by a catcher who was handed a contract by the municipal corporation. There have been several complaints of monkey bites by residents across NCR cities.The municipal corporation has denied the allegations of cruelty against the animals. Apart from activists of People for Animals, the team that raided the community centre included members of the Bajrang Dal and the Praveen Togadia-led Hindu Hi Aagey.“The monkeys were cramped inside a steel cage. The room hardly had any ventilation and the animals were wailing for lack of food and water. They were so tightly packed that not a single animal was in a position to sit,” Pankaj Arya, a member of Hindu Hi Aagey, said. Sources said the cage was approximately 3.5 feet in height and width while its length was around 4 feet.Municipal commissioner Chandra Prakash Singh said: “Medical examinations were conducted on each animal. All were healthy, baring three females and one male who needed hospitalisation. They had been injured in a fight among themselves. Food had been provided to the animals. .”

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