A mother and child langur, similar to this pair photographed near Bhubaneshwar, India, are being hunted down by an allegedly murderous male langur.
Police in the Indian state of Orissa are responding to complaints of domestic violence that have been filed by concerned villagers on behalf of a female monkey and its newborn.
Asian News International reports that residents near Bhubaneshwar complained to authorities that the male monkey, called Raja, had been consistently trying to attack the female monkey, Jhumri, and her child, Astaranga.
Police say the aggressive primate had already allegedly killed one infant of its species and was now apparently taking aim on Astaranga.
The authorities say that if captured, Raja will be prosecuted under three sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with kidnapping, abduction for slavery and criminal intimidation by anonymous communication.
There was no mention of what sentence Raja could face if convicted.
Photo: Karina Komarova