Kupwara, Dec 15: A leopard mauled to death a teenage girl at Malikpora Vilgam area here on Wednesday.
 According to the locals, the leopard pounced on Rubeena, 14, daughter of Abdul Khaliq Bhat when she was collecting firewood few yards away from her home. “The victims’ cries grabbed the attention of the passerby who after reaching on the spot found her in a pool of blood,” the local said adding the grievously wounded was shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead.   
 The deceased was a student of class 7th in Government Middle school Malikpora.
 The residents of the area the wild animals had created a reign of terror in the area with attacks on humans becoming order of the day. “This is fourth death in a leopard attack in the in the area. Before this Kulsooma of Hangrikoot, Ishfaq Ahmad of Hafrada, and Zahid Farooq of Diver were killed by leopards,” they said.
 The attacks by wild animals are not confined to Vilgam area only. “The wild animals are also on prowl at Hachamargi, Phoolmargi, Malikpora, Tumina, Hafrada, Rangwar, Chowkibal, Hangrikoot, Waisa, and upper belt of Ramhal Rajwar wherein the people fear to venture of their homes during the dusk,” the inhabitants of these areas said. 
 “The beasts have turned our lives miserable. Our children are hesitant to go to their respective schools due to the fear psychosis,” Shabir Ahmad of Hachamargi said.
 When contacted, the Wildlife Warden North Kashmir, Rouf Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that “All the incidents have occurred in the jurisdiction of forest department.”
 “We have dispatched the team to area and are collecting scientific proofs weather it is the same leopard which has killed the three others,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST