Eight-year-old Boy, Vikas, Mauled to Death by Leopard in Uttar Pradesh Village

Accident – Death – Obituary News : In a horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves through the Belwa village in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh, an eight-year-old boy named Vikas met a tragic end after being attacked and mauled to death by a ferocious leopard. The forest department confirmed that the young boy was taken away by the leopard, and his mutilated body was discovered in the bushes on Friday.

The heart-wrenching incident unfolded on Thursday evening when Vikas, the son of Jagdamba Prasad, was innocently sitting outside his home in Belwa village’s serene surroundings in Tulsipur tehsil. Little did he know that danger lurked in the nearby bushes, where a stealthy leopard lay hidden. Suddenly, the leopard pounced on Vikas, swiftly grabbing him in its powerful jaws, and vanished into the dense forest. Devastation struck the village when the villagers found the lifeless body of the young boy, his throat gruesomely slit, amidst the bushes near a mountain drain.

The news of this tragic incident quickly spread, prompting District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Singh to take immediate action. Singh issued instructions to capture the leopard, leading the forest department to mobilize four teams to carry out the crucial task. The teams, equipped with necessary expertise and equipment, were dispatched to the area, intensifying efforts to locate and apprehend the dangerous feline.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Dr Sam Maran M, who visited the site of the incident to assess the situation, confirmed the deployment of these four Forest Department teams. In addition, the local police and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) were instructed to remain stationed in the village, ensuring the safety and security of the residents.

In a bid to prevent such tragic incidents in the future, District Magistrate Arvind Kumar revealed that the forest department had installed ten cameras and four cages specifically designed for tracking leopards. These measures aim to monitor the movement and behavior of these elusive creatures, enhancing the authorities’ ability to respond swiftly and effectively. To further bolster their efforts, DFOs from neighboring districts, Barabanki and Siddharthnagar, were called upon to provide their valuable expertise and support.

As the investigation continues, District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Singh assured the grieving family that financial assistance would be provided once the post-mortem report of the boy’s body is received. This gesture aims to alleviate some of the burdens faced by the family during this incredibly distressing time, offering them the support they need.

This tragic incident is not the first of its kind to occur in the region. In a separate incident that took place in September, a 45-year-old woman named Sharda Rajbhar fell victim to a leopard attack in the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj. The victim, a resident of Semarhwa village in the Nautanwa Police Station area, met a similar fate, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in areas where human-wildlife encounters are prevalent.

In another shocking incident that unfolded in September of this year, a leopard was mercilessly killed by enraged villagers in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district. The leopard had injured a man and his son after entering a house in Chivri village within the Nawagarh forest range. The villagers, driven by fear and the desire to protect their community, took drastic measures to eliminate the threat posed by the aggressive feline.

It is crucial for authorities and wildlife conservation organizations to address the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region. By implementing measures that focus on both the preservation of wildlife habitats and the safety of local communities, we can strive towards achieving a harmonious coexistence between humans and these majestic creatures..