Range Officer Suspended, Orders To Kill Wild Beast issued
Budgam, Jun 4 (GNS): A leopard killed a minor girl and devoured most parts of her body in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said on Friday.
They said the girl identified as Adda Yasir Mir (4) daughter of Yasir Ahmad Mir had gone missing from Housing Colony Ompora Humhama Budgam from 4 p.m. after which her family lodged a report with nearby police station. While most people suspected that the girl was taken away by the leopard and their worst fears came true when team of police, SDRF and locals found few of her body parts in the area in dense nursery.
The locals said that a leap (group) of leopards was seen roaming in the area for quite a some time now and accused wildlife officials of doing little to trap the wild beasts. No wildlife officer could be immediately contacted for comments.
The authorities suspended Suhail Qazi, Range Officer Wildlife Department Ompora Budgam with immediate effect. Additional deputy commissioner Budgam has been appointed inquiry officer into the matter.
Meanwhile authorities have asked wild life warden Budgam to deploy staff with machinery for elimination of the leopard as he has now turned man-eater.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Budgam with district’s senior Superintendent of Police, Divisional Forest Office and Wild life Warden in attendance, officials told GNS.
The Deputy Commissioner has asked DFO, PP Division Budgam, to ensure immediate removal of fallen material and other cultural operations at Ompora Forests and other risk areas forthwith in order to avoid to any further loss of life and property in the area.
The DFO has been asked to take immediate steps for erection and strengthening of existing chain-link fencing at Ompora forests and will also submit DPR to the higher authorities for sanction of funds. He will also process the proposal and case for sanction of thinning of the forest immediately.
“Wild life Warden Budgam will deploy staff well equipped with machinery for elimination of the Wild Animal (Leopard) which has turned man-eater after obtaining sanction from the competent authority.” Wild Life Staff has been asked to depute in the periphery of the Ompora Forests for patrolling and awareness among general public regarding roaming of the leopard in the area. “Immediate steps shall be taken for capturing of the roaming animal in the forests. Any laxity on this score shall be dealt with strictly.”
The Wild Life Warden Budgam has been asked to immediately prepare compensation case of 4-year-old girl who was mauled to death by the leopard. (GNS)
