In a recent incident highlighting the persistent issue of human-wildlife conflicts, Surjeet Kumar Batwal, a 45-year-old resident of Paryote Barnotu, Doda, was admitted to the Associated Hospital Government Medical College (GMC) Doda after a bear attack in the Saya Nala area on Wednesday, sources told The Chenab Times.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of another tragic bear attack on September 11th as reported by The Chenab Times, which claimed the life of an elderly man in the Kastigarh area of Doda district. The victim, identified as Karnail Singh, aged over 60 and a resident of Kotli Kashtigarh, was attacked by a bear while returning home. This unfortunate event escalated tensions within the region, prompting swift action from wildlife authorities.
The decision to hunt down the bear responsible for the attacks was made by wildlife authorities on September 12, 2023, following the tragic loss of Karnail Singh’s life due to a bear encounter on September 11th. Early reports indicated the presence of a female bear and her three cubs in the Kastigarh area of Doda district.
To address the escalating situation, Deputy Commissioner Doda, Vishesh Paul Mahajan, convened a meeting with wildlife and forest officials on August 28th. During this meeting, Mahajan assigned tasks to Wildlife Warden Kishtwar, Forest Officials, Police officials, and Village Defence Guards (VDGs) to formulate a comprehensive strategy for enhanced patrolling in the region.
On September 14th, the Wildlife Department successfully captured a bear believed to be responsible for a series of attacks. The bear was tranquilized during the operation and has since been transported to Kishtwar for further evaluation and necessary actions. Additionally, concerned locals also captured a bear in a separate incident and handed it over to the wildlife department for appropriate measures.
However, the Doda district has witnessed a concerning surge in bear attacks over the past two months, raising serious concerns among the local population. These incidents emphasize the importance of continued efforts to promote coexistence and safety in areas prone to human-wildlife encounters.
Farid Ahmed Naik is Executive Editor for The Chenab Times and first Sarazi language news reporter. He also covers Crime and Politics on CT. Read More…