4-yr-old J&K girl mauled to death by leopard
SRINAGAR: A four-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The body of Adha Yasir, who was taken away by the animal from the compound of her house in Ompura Housing Colony on Thursday evening, was recovered from a forest nursery just 1km away on Friday morning.
As per reports, the girl was riding a tricycle she had received as a present on her birthday when the leopard arrived.
According to neighbours, the family members had just stepped inside the house when they heard cries of the girl. “Once they came out, there was no trace of the girl,” said Ehsan Fazili, one such neighbour.
He said that father of girl, alerted neighbour’s who informed the police and the wildlife officials.
The police also took help from trained sniffer canines and handlers to trace the girl, but failed. In the morning, body of the girl was spotted deep in the nursery by the search teams.
Chief wildlife warden Suresh Kumar said that department is doing everything to safeguard lives of people. Former minister and legislator Ruhullah Medhi, who lives in adjoining area, termed the incident “criminal negligence”. Meanwhile, Budgam DC chaired a high-level meeting that was attended by SSP, DFO, and wildlife warden.
A government spokesman said it was decided that immediate removal will be ensured of fallen material and other cultural operations at Ompora forests and other risk areas.