Monkey Business

A South Korean tourist has filed a formal complaint against a monkey he says stole his reading glasses during his visit to the Hindu holy city of Varanasi in northern India.

Kim Dang Hoon says he opened his hotel room window for fresh air when the monkey made his move. "He headed straight to the table where my glasses were kept and took it away," Kim said in the statement.

Part of the frame later was recovered by hotel staff and Kim said he filed the report so he can make a damages claim on his travel insurance.

On Tuesday, police combed Varanasi's alleys searching for the monkey. "It is difficult to trace the monkey but I am trying my best to locate the rogue," said investigating officer Inspector Govind Singh.

"But we can't do anything. We cannot shoot them or beat them as Hindus worship monkeys," he said.