3 injured in bear attack, villagers kills bear in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 7 (UNI) Three people, including two women, were injured after they were attacked by wild animals while a bear was stoned to death in south Kashmir overnight, official sources said today.

They said a bear suddenly appeared at Dangipora, Kokernag, in south Kashmir district of Anantnag when some children were playing there.

Before the villagers could rescue the children, the bear attacked and injured a girl critically.

Later, the villagers in retaliation attacked the bear with stones and batens, and killed him on the spot. The villagers alleged that wild-animals often attack and injured them in the area as the Wildlife department had failed to take any preventive measures.

Meanwhile, the department has registered a case in a local police station against the villagers for killing the bear.

Today, another bear entered village Narfintop, Kokernag,from forest area and attacked and injured a woman Naeeba Bibi and her son Anzar Hussain. The injured were admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

The man-wild animal conflict has increased in the Kashmir valley forcing wildlife authorities to formulate a comprehensive management plan to meet the challenge. The plan included infrastructural strengthening, awareness campaign and better communication.

The plan has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and State Planning Department for financial assistance.

More than 80 people, including women and children, were killed and 330 others wounded in animal attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years. In retaliation about a dozen wild animals were also killed by the agitated people during the period, rejecting the protests by animal lovers and NGOs.

UNI BAS ASM PD RK1550