It's now been nearly a month of terror for 60-year-old C.J. Ravishankar. In that time, the moment he steps out of his house one particular, maniacal crow has been attacking him. Even if Ravishankar walks in a group, the bird picks him out for special attention.
The bewildered cement salesman has now resorted to desperate measures. From wearing protective head-gear to carrying a toy gun, Ravishankar is trying everything to scare the bird away. The tactics, however, have failed so far. And now, his family has even bought him a burkha hoping they can fool the crow.
“We will know soon, if the crow can figure that out or not,” says Jayanthi, Ravishankar's equally perplexed wife
Ravishankar's family are trying a softer approach to the situation. They tried keeping food on the terrace and when that failed, the family offered prayers to Lord Shani (whose vehicle is the crow) and that plan didn't take off either.
The first attack happened when Ravishankar was on the terrace of his house. After a number of pecks, it retreated and he was quick to dismiss it as just another incident. But the strike happened aagain and this time, he was outside and the bird, in what can sound terrifying, was seemingly 'waiting for him'.
“We are not able to figure out why the crow is after me,” says Ravishankar, even as many believe that it could be one of his 'dead' relatives, seeking out a grudge. “It is the same crow, there is a scar on its neck and has a slight tilt to one side.”
Trying to explain the nature of the attacks is Dr. M. Gunasekahar, an ornithologist from the Salim Ali Naturalist Forum. "There have been instances of crows attacking people if they disturb the nest, but attacking the same person for one month, has no scientific explanation at all.”