Third girl killed by leopard in four days in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 14 (UNI) In just four days, a third girl was killed by a leopard in south Kashmir last evening, police said today.

They said the leopard descended at Chattrugul in Achabal Halkha area of Anantnag district yesterday and took away eight-year-old Rayeesa Mir.

Police said the locals found the mauled head and the clothes of the girl from a nearby forest area this morning.

Earlier on January 12, Beauty Jan was attacked and wounded by a leopard in the same area. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to wounds on the way, police added.

Before that on January 9, a leopard killed ten-year-old Shabina Akthar at Utrasoo village in the same district.

Wild animals have killed more than a dozen people in the Kashmir valley since November. Officials said there were 60-70 incidents of man-animal conflicts last year.

In view of frequent leopard attacks and loss of lives, a massive and vigorous hunt has been launched by the wildlife department along with police to trap the animals.

Minister of State for Health and Power Peer Mohammad Hussain had yesterday directed the officials concerned to take concrete steps within two days so that further loss of lives could be prevented.

Expressing deep shock and anguish over the loss of lives in leopard attacks, Mr Hussain asked the wildlife authorities to immediately provide ex-gratia relief to the affected families.

UNI