MUZAFFARABAD: An eight-year-old girl was tragically killed by a leopard in a residential area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Hattian Bala district, officials reported on Sunday.
According to police, the incident occurred in Pando Nala, a village located about 15 kilometers from Chinari and approximately 65 kilometers from the regional capital, Muzaffarabad. The area lies close to the LoC, which often brings wildlife into human settlements.
The leopard reportedly entered the courtyard of the girl’s home and dragged her into a nearby wooded area. The family and locals immediately launched a search, combing nearby fields and forested patches in the hope of locating the child.
After three hours of searching, the girl’s body was found in a dense thicket. Police officials stated that the leopard appeared to have bitten the girl on the neck and drained her blood before fleeing into the forest.
Authorities have advised residents in nearby villages to remain alert and avoid leaving children unattended, particularly during dawn and dusk when wildlife is more active. Efforts are underway to track down the predator responsible for this horrific attack.
