This is the moment an adult monkey protected a younger primate from a fed-up shopkeeper in Fatehabad, Haryana.

Mahavir, a jeweller, was fed up with monkeys hanging around his shop and believed they were scaring off customers.

On April 5 he attempted to shoo away one with a stick but was tackled to the group by an older monkey.

As Mahavir retreated into his shop the two monkeys attempted to pursue him and waited outside the door.

Mahavir later said: “The monkeys are a daily menace. They have attacked me earlier also. I request the city officials to relocate them.”

This was the moment an alpha monkey grappled with an angry man and brought him down to protect a younger member of its band.

Mahavir, a jeweller in Fatehabad in northern India, was fed up with a few monkeys, which stayed close to his shop and were scaring away his customers.

On April 5, he took a stick and tried to chase away a few simians, which had gathered close to his shop.

An adult monkey fled in time, but the sight of a charging man made a youngster freeze in fear, prompting the alpha to step into rescue. It leapt on Mahavir catching him by surprise and knocked him down, giving time for another adult to rescue the stranded youngster.

Though Mahavir retreated to his shop and shut the door, the monkeys were too angry to drop the matter.

They gathered in front of his shop and challenged him to come out and finish the fight, though the shopkeeper wisely stayed inside.

Mahavir later said: “The monkeys are a daily menace. They have attacked me earlier also. I request the city officials to relocate them.”