'Mysterious' animal attacks four Dehat villagers

Kanpur: A mysterious wild animal has spread fear among villagers at Kandhi Rampura village in Sikandara area of Kanpur Dehat district. It has attacked and injured four people, two of them women, on Monday night.
Radha Devi (45), Deepa (22), Ram Devi (60), and Kallu (35) have been admitted at the primary health centre. Condition of Radha Devi is stated to be critical and others are out of danger.Panic gripped the village as the animal has not been traced till Tuesday evening.
Divisional Forest Officer (acting) Mukesh Sharma said that a team visited the village on Tuesday afternoon.
The villagers said that the animal could be a leopard. But forest officials maintained that it may be wild boar, jackal or hyena.
The animal has attempted to drag the victims when they went out of their houses at night. Radha, who suffered critical wounds, was dragged by the animal. It fled after villagers woke up on hearing her cries for help and rushed to save her.
"The villagers claimed the animal was a leopard. But we believe it may be a wild boar, jackal or hyena," a forest ranger told TOI. He added that the forest department has formed a team to catch the animal.
The villagers continue to live under fear of the wild animal. "They have formed groups to protect the children and livestock. Many, sleeping outside their houses, keep firearms and lathis," a villager said.
There is forest near the village. The animal seems to have come to human settlements in search of water and food.