Operation extended to eliminate man-eater in Reasi forests

To eliminate a leopard, which has mauled two girls to death in the past three weeks in Reasi district, the government Wednesday extended its ‘Operation All Out’ by fifteen days.

Pertinently, the operation was initially sanctioned for oneweek.

   

Man-animal conflicts have become a new normal in Mahoresub-division of Reasi district, resulting in widespread outcry.

In two similar instances, a minor girl, Rahila Akhter fromMohra Hill in Shajroo village, was killed by a leopard on 23 May, while anothergirl, identified as Gulhad Bano from Mohra Channa Top, was reportedly mauled todeath by the same animal on 6 June.

Subsequently, the Wildlife department laid a number of trapsto control the wild beast’s movement, but failed.

Meanwhile, on June 7, the Chief Wildlife Warden, afterreceiving inputs from Wildlife Warden Rajouri-Poonch and Regional WildlifeWarden, issued an order asking authorities to kill the beast if it they areunable to capture it.

However, since the authorities failed to capture or kill theman-eater, the department was forced to extend the operation by fifteen days.

On being contacted, Wildlife Warden Rajouri-Poonch, MushtaqChowdhary, said that the operation has been going on in the forest area sincethe past eleven days.

“From 9-12 June, an extensive operation, named ‘OperationAll Out’, was carried out in the forest area near Shajroo village and 120officials were engaged in it,” he said.

“Officials from Wildlife Protection department, Forestdepartment, Forest Protection Force, police, village defense committees andlocal people are involved in the operation, which will continue till the animalis traced,” he added.

He further said that police has also engaged three sharpshooters, who are known for their hunting skills.

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