(IN) Indian Monkeys on Rampage Against Smokers

November 20, 2000

Thursday, November 16, 2000 By Bill Hoffmann

NEW YORK - Smokers being attacked by monkeys at an office

building in India have asked a zoo to catch the creatures so they can

puff in peace - but non-smokers say that'll happen " over our dead

bodies. "

" These monkeys are harmless, other than the fact that they don't like

cigarettes, which cause cancer, " office worker Richard Rajev raged.

" If the smokers don't like them, let them work elsewhere. Those

monkeys will go over our dead bodies. "

The Post revealed yesterday how a fearless army of 2-foot-tall brown

monkeys are terrorizing smokers at the Sahara India building in Patna.

They march around in single file, pouncing on and vigorously slapping

anybody who lights up, as well as stealing cigarette packs out of their coats.

And now the monkey crisis has turned worker against worker, with

smokers calling for a local zoo to catch the playful beasts and lock them

away - an idea that has non-smokers going ape.

Some of the workers consider the monkeys sacred - and they are

revered by many in India for assisting the Hindu god Ram in defeating

the demon king Ravan.

The smoke-free simians have even managed to make a couple smokers

quit the habit, workers say.

" Many people who fall prey to these wandering monkeys don't tell their

tales of woe, as they do not want to become a laughingstock, " said

Ramakant Prasad, a computer professional.

The anti-smoking faction may soon have some substantial muscle on

their side, in the form of one of India's cancer-research groups.

The group is said to be considering an anti-smoking campaign revolving

around the monkeys in which they re-create scenes of the beasts

attacking those who light up.

One of the slogans being considered is: " Cancer is nothing to monkey

around with. "

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