A tragic incident shocked Kotdwar on Saturday evening when a leopard snatched a two-year-old girl from her home courtyard in Barswar village under Jaiharikhal block and killed her. The child was taken in front of her parents, leaving the family and villagers in deep shock.
The victim, Yashika, daughter of Jitendra and granddaughter of former area panchayat member Virendra Lal, was sitting in the courtyard with her parents around 6:30 pm when the leopard suddenly appeared. Before anyone could react, the animal grabbed the child and fled towards the forest. Despite desperate cries and attempts by the parents, the leopard disappeared into the jungle.
Hearing the screams, villagers rushed to the area and launched a search operation in nearby forest stretches. After hours of searching, Yashika’s body was recovered around 9 pm at a distance from the house in a severely mutilated condition.
The incident occurred in the Palkot forest area under Lansdowne forest division. After receiving information, forest department officials reached the spot and began formal procedures. The incident has created panic and fear among residents, especially families living close to forest boundaries.
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Locals have demanded immediate action from the forest department, including intensified patrolling and safety measures, as human-wildlife conflict continues to pose a serious threat in forest-adjacent villages.
