A tragic incident occurred in Raipur village of Lakhimpur Kheri district on Sunday evening when a 10-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in front of his father. This marks the fourth fatal human-leopard conflict in the region within just two-and-a-half months.
Attack Details
Shubham Yadav was accompanying his father, Jawahar Lal Yadav, to their agricultural field to sow paddy. A leopard lurking in an adjacent sugarcane field suddenly attacked the boy, gripping his neck. Hearing his screams, the father and other nearby workers rushed to help, forcing the leopard to retreat into the fields. Shubham succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Village Protests
The incident triggered massive outrage among villagers, who blocked the Isanagar-Khamaria road with the boy's body in protest. The demonstration lasted until 1 am on Monday, with protesters dispersing only after senior administrative and police officials assured them of immediate protective measures and financial assistance.
Forest Department Response
While villagers alleged official apathy regarding stray leopards, Uttar Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Anuradha Vemuri, said no feline movement had been previously reported in the zone. She suggested the leopard may have taken refuge near a local reservoir due to the extreme heat. The forest department has since deployed three round-the-clock patrolling teams, camera traps, and cages with live bait to capture the animal. A compensation of ₹5 lakh has also been announced for the grieving family.
Rising Human-Leopard Conflicts
This was the fourth fatal man-leopard conflict reported from the rural belt surrounding North Kheri forest division since March 25. Earlier incidents include:
- Paramjeet Kaur, a 7-year-old girl, was dragged from her home and killed in village Sidhauna on March 25.
- Dilshad, 7, was attacked in a wheat field in village Nibauria where his parents were harvesting wheat on April 18.
- Sandhya Devi, 32, was mauled to death by another leopard in village Sahajna when she was asleep outside her home on the night of April 25.
The series of attacks has raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region, with local communities demanding more effective measures to prevent such tragedies.
About the Author
Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
