A video of a baby monkey, identified as a sub-adult rhesus macaque, being forcefully fed a red liquid, claimed to be wine, has gone viral on social media. The Forest Department in the union territory Chandigarh took note of the matter and filed a complaint against the accused, who is a tattoo artist.
Since keeping a monkey captive is a crime in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Forest Department conducted surprise raids at the accused's workplace and home. Kamaljit Singh, the tattoo artist, has since said that red liquid was juice and had released the monkey after he was informed by a follower that it was a crime. He said he had found the monkey injured before the lockdown.
However, netizens are furious at such a "satanic" act.