Srinagar, June 4: The mauled body of a four-year old girl who went missing in Budgam district of central Kashmir last evening was recovered on Friday, sending shock waves across Kashmir.
Officials said that four-year-old Mir Adda went missing while playing in the lawn of her residence at Ompora in Budgam Thursday evening. “The locals believe that she was attacked and taken away by a leopard, who was seen in the area,” officials said.
“Police, locals and wildlife employees continued searching throughout the night to trace the missing girl,” they said.
Police also used sniffer dogs to trace the girl in the dense bushy nursery situated in the locality. After a massive search, her mauled body was found in the nearby nursery.
Police said that preliminary investigation suggests that the girl was attacked and mauled by some wild animal, probably a leopard. “After completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body was handed over to her family for last rites,” police said.
The incident has sent shock waves across Kashmir. The netizens took to social media networking sites to express their concern over the incident. People expressed sympathy with the family and demanded to curb the man-eater wild animals.
District administration Budgam has approved compensation to the family of the girl. The district administration has also ordered killing of the leopard it said had turned a man-eater, after sanction from the competent authority.
Besides, DFO Budgam has been asked to take immediate steps for erection and strengthening of existing chain-link fencing at Ompora forests and also submit DPR to the higher authorities for sanction of funds.
The district administration has asked Wildlife Warden Budgam to deploy staff well equipped with machinery for elimination of the leopard.
“Wildlife staff will be deputed in the periphery of the Ompora forests for patrolling and awareness among the general public regarding roaming of the leopard in the area. They will take immediate steps for capturing the roaming animal in the forests,” an official said.