350 monkeys picked up from Mubarak Mandi Complex in Jammu

Jammu, Nov 4 (UNI) In a bid to preserve the heritage Mubarak Mandi Complex here, 350 monkeys have been picked up from the site, who have created a havoc in and around the place.

The initiative has been taken by the State Tourism Department, along with the Wildlife Department, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department to re-build the historical building situated in an old city.

''Mubarak Mandi Complex is not only a heritage property of the state but also an identity of Dogras. The government has planned to preserve it by re-constructing its damaged portions,'' official sources told UNI.

The location, however, has become a hub of monkeys and it was getting difficult for the architects and the experts to inspect the building thoroughly to facelift the historical complex.

''A special team was invited from Uttar Pradesh and a drive was launched from October 23 to trap the monkeys. Out of over 700 monkeys, 350 have been picked up so far from in and around the complex,'' sources in Wildlife Department said.

''The monkeys, after being picked up from the site, are released near Manda and Jhajjar Kotli forest areas,'' sources said.

''The drive will continue for another one week,'' sources added.

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