Greater Noida, March 19 (IANS) A monkey was allegedly shot dead in the NTPC township area of Greater Noida, triggering protests by animal lovers and Hindu groups.

The incident occurred Wednesday.

According to police, a monkey was allegedly shot dead by NTPC employee Ashraf Ali outside his home in the B-block area of the township under Jarcha police station.

Hindu organizations and animal welfare activists swiftly reached the area and protested against the act.

On the complaint of Vishwa Hindu Parishad district president Pradeep Kumar, a case was registered against Ashraf Ali under section 429 IPC and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Animal rights activist Ashima Sharma said, 'The post mortem of the animal shows a clear bullet mark injury on the head, which proves the monkey was shot by the NTPC employee. But the police are reluctant to arrest him.'

Station Officer Jarcha, Babu Ram Verma said 'The residents informed us that they had found a monkey lying dead near the house of this NTPC employee. They then wrapped it in a red piece of cloth and buried in the nearby fields. On Friday, when we asked the women and some other residents in the immediate vicinity of the house, they told us that there was a fierce fight among a few langoors and monkeys due to which it fell down from the multi-storied house.'

'We exhumed the body of the monkey and got a post mortem conducted by a veterinary doctor' the official said.

'The case will be dealt as per the law,' he said.