opard mauls girl to death in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) - - A 12-year- old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday.The leopard attacked the girl near her house in village Dardpora of Kupwara district, about 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir."A girl Ulfat Jan was killed after being attacked by a leopard roaming in Dardpora last evening," said a police spokesman. "The girl died on spot owing to deadly bruises on her body"The mutilated body of the girl according to spokesman was found in the locality and later on handed over to her family. Locals said girl had ventured out of her house during the evening time.The news about death of girl and roaming of beast created panic in the village.Villagers and wildlife officials have launched a manhunt to trap the man-eater.Last month a 10-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in the district.Wildlife officials say leopards and bears stray into residential areas usually in search of food. However, according to them the human presence makes these animals insecure, following which they resort to attacking people.At times these creatures are attacked by scared villagers in retaliation which also proves fatal for them. There are strict laws in force in the region against killing of wild animals.On Monday a bear was shot dead by Indian army in Handwara area after the wild animal attacked and injured several people including troopers. The bear according to locals was roaming in the residential area for the last two weeks.Meanwhile, a bear was captured alive from Pazalpora village in Handwara by police on Sunday. The animal reportedly was later on handed over to the wildlife department.Locals alleged several beasts are on prowl in the area and have created a havoc among the residents. Wildlife experts say mass urbanization, denudation of forests, encroachment of forestland, vanishing of buffer zones in the forests and extraction of medicinal plants are some of the reasons responsible for increasing conflict between humans and animals. Last year several people were killed in the man-animal conflict in the region. Endi

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