PEERZADA AARIF
Hail Kreeri (Baramulla), July 13: A day after a 3 year old boy was mauled to death by leopard a 7 year old boy was killed by wolves in Hail village of this north Kashmir area on Saturday.
Locals said that Aadil Hameed Sheikh son of Abdul Hameed Sheikh of Hail Jageer Kreeri had gone out of his home when he was attacked by two wild wolves resulting in his on spot death.
Talking to Greater Kashmir Station House Officer (SHO) Kreeri said: “Soon after the incident a police team rushed to the village to catch the wild animals.”
Pertinently, this is the fourth killing of humans in the past 3 months by wild animals in the area. Earlier in March this year an 11 year old boy was killed by two wild leopards. This was followed by another killing at Kharchek Watergam village where a leopard killed an 8 year old boy. Another 3 year old boy was mauled to death by leopard at Harshnaar Shiekhpora Kreeri on Friday.
Locals said the wild animals going on a killing spree in the area has created fear psychosis among the people and panic has gripped the entire area. “We have been reeling under the threat of wild animals from the past two months. People have restricted their movements in morning and evening,” said Mansoor Ahmad, a resident.
The residents accused the Wildlife department of not paying much heed towards this serious problem.
“Lackadaisical attitude of the Wildlife officials has put our lives at stake,” he added.
When contacted Chief Wild Life Officer Baramulla Abdul Rouf Zargar said the team of hunters of his department is already present in the area.
“Our team is present in the area from the past one month, we are on the job to trace these wild animals,” he said.
He also said that there were hindrances in killing these wild animals. “When our men tried to kill or catch these wild animals locals didn’t cooperate. The forest in the area is dense and the visibility is zero,” he said.
He also said the area is sloppy and there are meadows where these wild animals remain hidden.
Refuting the allegations of the residents that the Wildlife department is doing nothing, Zargar said: “People don’t cooperate with the department when it comes to catching these wild animals.”