Bahraich (UP): Two persons, including a minor girl and a youth, were injured in an attack by a leopard in different parts of Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, forest department officials said here on Friday.
Sources said that the first incident took place in Harkhapur village of Dharmapur range on late Thursday evening, where the leopard attacked farmer Madhusudan (35), while he was working in the field.
"The farmer saved his life by fighting with the leopard, but he was seriously injured. He was immediately brought to the community health centre by his family, but when his condition became critical, he was referred to Medical College at 9 pm," they said.
Sources said that in the second incident, Sayba (13), a resident of Ayodhya Purva village under Sujauli police station area, was sleeping outside the house on Thursday night.
"Around 10 pm, a leopard came out of the forest and attacked the girl," they said.
Sources said that the family members woke up on hearing the girl screaming and started shouting. "She was brought to CHC Motipur, but here also, when her condition became critical, she was referred to the district hospital. When her condition did not improve late at night, she was referred to Lucknow Medical College," they said.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) B Shiv Shankar said the leopard has attacked in different villages.
"Two people, including a girl were injured in this incident. The leopard first attacked a village, where a youth named Madhusudan was injured. After this, the leopard moved towards another village and attacked a girl there," he said.
He said that both the injured were immediately admitted to the hospital, where their treatment is going on. He said that the forest department has constituted a team and increased patrolling in the area.
He has appealed to the villagers to be cautious and not go out alone. The DFO has assured that soon the leopard will be caught safely so that there is no further harm to the local people.