A seven-year-old boy has died following a leopard attack in the Dhaurahra forest range, underscoring the escalating human-wildlife conflict within the Dudhwa buffer zone. The incident marks the seventh fatality attributed to large cats in the region this year.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the tragic event occurred on Sunday evening in Laljipurwa village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Isanagar police station. The young victim, identified as Shubham, was accompanying his father to irrigate their agricultural fields when the leopard emerged from dense vegetation and attacked him. The animal retreated only after the father and other villagers raised an alarm and pursued it.
Shubham was immediately transported to the Khamaria Community Health Centre. Despite receiving treatment, he succumbed to his injuries. Kirti Choudhary, Deputy Director of the Dudhwa Buffer Zone, confirmed the fatality and extended condolences to the grieving family. Forest department teams, equipped with specialized cages and camera traps, have been deployed to the affected area in an effort to track and capture the leopard responsible for the attack.
The incident brings the total number of human deaths from big-cat encounters in the Dudhwa buffer zone to seven this year. This includes six fatalities from leopard attacks and one from a tiger attack. In addition to the deaths, approximately half a dozen individuals have sustained injuries in leopard-related incidents during the same period, according to official reports.
In response to the growing threat, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Manoj Tiwari stated that forest and revenue officials visited Laljipurwa village. They advised residents to exercise caution and avoid venturing out alone during the twilight and nighttime hours, periods when wildlife activity is often heightened. The advisory aims to mitigate further risks to the local population.
Following the attack and subsequent death of the child, angry villagers took to the streets. They staged a protest along the Khamaria-Isanagar road near Lajipurwa, demanding the swift capture of the leopard. The demonstration disrupted traffic and drew the attention of authorities.
Deputy SP (Dhaurahra) Shamsher Bahadur Singh, accompanied by police personnel from the Dhaurahra, Khamaria, and Isanagar stations, arrived at the protest site. They engaged with the demonstrators, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed. Vinod Shankar Awasthi, the BJP MLA representing the Dhaurahra constituency, also visited the village. He offered his condolences to Shubham’s family and pledged that the forest department would take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the residents. The protestors eventually dispersed after receiving assurances from the administration and local elected officials. The body of the deceased child was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination, as per standard procedure in such cases.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
