A tragic incident occurred in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, where a nine-year-old girl was dragged from her verandah and killed by a leopard, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Details of the Incident
The victim, Anshika, daughter of Om Prakash, was sleeping in the verandah of her home in Tapra Bazaar village under Sujauli police station limits. The leopard grabbed her and dragged her towards the nearby forest. Hearing her screams, relatives and villagers rushed out and launched a frantic search using torches and sticks. Leopard pugmarks were found near the house, prompting the villagers to comb the surrounding fields and forest areas.
After more than an hour of searching, Anshika was found critically injured in a sugarcane field near Sautiya Nala, about 200 metres from her home. She had sustained severe injuries to her face, neck, and other parts of the body, including deep bite marks and a grievously damaged windpipe. Her father picked her up and ran towards the hospital, but the child succumbed to her injuries on the way.
Background of the Victim
Anshika was a Class II student at a local primary school and the youngest of three siblings. Her father is a farmer.
Wildlife Conflict in the Area
According to the village head, the forest area of the Katarniaghat Wildlife region begins barely 300 metres from the village, and incidents involving leopards and tigers are reported frequently. Villagers said a cyclist had also been attacked by a leopard nearly an hour before the fatal incident.
Official Response
Sujauli ranger Rohit Kumar said a cage has been installed to capture the leopard and patrolling in the area has been intensified. Sujauli Station House Officer (SHO) Prakash Chandra Sharma confirmed that the body has been sent for post-mortem.
