LUCKNOW: Two separate wildlife attacks in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division in Bahraich late Friday left a 75-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy dead, triggering fear among villagers living close to the forest.In the Dharmapur range, a woman who had gone to a field to graze goats was attacked by an animal that villagers believed was a leopard.In a separate incident in the Motipur range, a leopard attacked a seven-year-old boy and dragged him into bushes. The boy’s mutilated body was recovered later in the evening, while only a portion of the woman’s leg had been found. Forest officials were searching for the rest of her remains.Woman goes missing while grazing goatsJamia, 75, a resident of Gujarhana village in the Dharmapur range, went to a nearby field to graze her goats at around 2 pm on Friday.The goats returned home around 7 pm, but Jamia did not. Her family members and villagers subsequently launched a search. During the search, they found a portion of her leg in the area.Pugmarks were also found near the spot, strengthening suspicion that the woman may have been attacked by a leopard.Dharmapur Range Forest Officer Deepak Mishra said a forest team had been sent to the area after receiving information about the woman’s disappearance and the recovery of human remains.The team is examining the evidence to establish the animal involved and determine the circumstances of the incident.Leopard drags seven-year-old into bushesIn the second incident, seven-year-old Suraj, a resident of Chamaran Purwa in the Motipur range, went towards the fields with another child on Friday.According to the preliminary account, a leopard suddenly emerged from the bushes, attacked Suraj and dragged him into the vegetation. The child accompanying him managed to escape and ran back to the village, where he informed the family and other villagers.Residents then launched a search for the boy. At around 8 pm, Suraj’s mutilated body was found near the bushes.Police and Forest Department teams reached the spot after receiving information and began an investigation.The two incidents have caused panic in villages bordering the forest.Residents have demanded increased surveillance and stronger safety measures to prevent further wildlife attacks.Forest department assures assistanceDivisional Forest Officer Apoorv Dixit confirmed that the department had received information about both incidents and said teams had reached the respective locations to investigate.”We are still awaiting post mortem reports of both before reaching a final conclusion,” said Dixit.Dixit also appealed to residents living near forests and agricultural fields to remain particularly cautious during the monsoon season and avoid venturing into forest-adjacent areas without taking necessary precautions.
