LUCKNOW: A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured after a leopard entered her house and attacked her while she was sleeping in the early hours of Wednesday in Maheshpur area under Motipur police station limits in Bahraich district. The incident took place in Rajapur Girant village under the Velhan gram panchayat in the Mihipurwa tehsil area, triggering panic among residents living close to forested areas. According to local residents, Jai Kala, wife of Shankar, was asleep inside her house at around 2 am when the leopard suddenly entered the premises and attacked her. The animal reportedly pounced on the woman, leaving her injured. The woman raised an alarm following the attack. Hearing her screams, nearby villagers rushed towards the house. The leopard fled from the spot after seeing the villagers approaching. With the help of local residents, the injured woman was taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Mihipurwa, where she was provided medical treatment. DFO CONFIRMS LEOPARD ATTACK, CAGE TO BE SET UP Katarniaghat Divisional Forest Officer Apoorv Dixit confirmed the leopard attack, saying the Forest Department has initiated measures to track and capture the animal. Dixit said, “The leopard attack has been confirmed. Combing operations are underway in the area, and cages will be set up to capture the animal.” He said forest personnel were carrying out search operations in and around the affected area to locate the leopard and monitor its movement. The department is also taking steps to prevent any further human-wildlife conflict in the locality. FOREST DEPARTMENT TEAM INSPECTS SPOT After receiving information about the incident, a team of the Forest Department reached the village and inspected the site. Wildlife protector Deepak Kumar Singh spoke to the villagers and gathered details about the leopard’s movement and the circumstances surrounding the attack. Residents told the forest officials that the village is located close to forested areas, with the forest reportedly around 800 metres from the houses. They said wild animals are frequently spotted in and around the locality despite the relatively short distance between the residential area and the forest. Villagers also expressed concern over the recurring movement of leopards in the area and demanded increased surveillance by the Forest Department. VILLAGERS SEEK IMMEDIATE CAPTURE OF LEOPARD Following the attack, residents urged the Forest Department to take immediate steps to trace and capture the leopard. They said the animal’s presence near residential areas has created fear among villagers, particularly those who have to move outdoors during the night and early morning hours. The Forest Department has assured the villagers that the animal’s movement will be closely monitored and that all necessary measures will be taken to capture it. Officials have also intensified combing operations in the area and plan to deploy cages as part of the trapping effort. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over human-wildlife encounters in villages located close to forest areas in Bahraich, with residents seeking sustained monitoring and preventive measures to ensure their safety.
