The Kashmir Pulse

BUDGAM — The bodies of all three persons who slipped into a well in Khansahib area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday have been recovered.

An official quoted by the local news agency Kashmir Scroll said that the man identified as Moomin Dar had accidentally fallen into a well following which a rescue operation was started during which two more persons slipped into it.

"Later, the officials from the local administration reached the spot and launched a massive rescue operation," he said.

Those who fell into the well have been identified as Moomin Dar, son of Mohammad Qasim Dar and Amjid Ali and Gulam Hassan Wani—both residents of Gotipora Khansahib.

An official said that all three bodies have been recovered and those have been shifted to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.

BUDGAM — In a tragic incident in Gotipora, Khansahib area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, three men fell into a tubewell, with two of them falling while attempting to rescue the first.

Reports from the Srinagar-based news agency KDC said that the incident happened when Moomin Dar, son of Mohammad Qasim Dar, accidentally fell into a tubewell in his village.

Upon witnessing the accident, Amjid Ali, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Gulam Hassan Wani, son of Mohammad Sultan, both residents of Gotipora, rushed to help. Unfortunately, during their rescue attempt, both men also fell into the tubewell.

Local authorities and villagers are currently engaged in efforts to rescue the three men from the tubewell. Further details regarding their condition and the ongoing rescue operation are awaited.

SRINAGAR — Two Rohingya girls were recovered from a residential house in the Khansahib area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, authorities said on Monday.

A police official quoted by a local news agency said that officers from Police Station Khansahib rescued the girls, identified as Hassna, 17, daughter of Aziz ul Rehman, and Rona Lela, 21, daughter of Habib Khatoon. They were found at the residence of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohd Sultan, in Check-e-Shara Khansahib.

A case has been registered under FIR No. 79/2024 under section 370 of the Indian Penal Code, and the accused has been arrested. However, the investigation is ongoing.

SRINAGAR — In response to a series of alarming attacks, authorities took action on Tuesday by shooting dead a leopard believed to be responsible for the deaths of two minor girls in separate incidents within Budgam district.

An official, quoted by a local news agency, revealed that following directives from Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo in light of the recent tragedies, concerted efforts were made to locate and neutralize the dangerous animal.

"After several days of vigilant monitoring and trap-setting, the Jammu and Kashmir Police successfully killed the leopard at the Social-Forestry Nursery in Samsan village, located in the Khansahib area of Budgam," the official confirmed.

Throughout the month of March, the now-deceased leopard had struck multiple times, claiming the lives of two minor girls and inflicting injuries upon a minor boy in Samsan and Hariwani villages.

BUDGAM — Following another fatal attack on a child in Khansahib area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, the Wildlife Department issued shoot-at-sight orders on Friday to eliminate the "man-eater" leopard.

The Khansahib area has been gripped with fear and anguish after a series of leopard attacks claimed the lives of two minor girls and left a minor boy injured within a span of 17 days.

Toiba Mushtaq, 7, daughter of Mushtaq Ahmad, was taken from the lawns of her home during the evening hours, and her body was later found in nearby bushes. Notably, a 9-year-old girl was fatally attacked, while a minor boy sustained injuries in a separate incident involving a leopard in the neighbouring village of Samsan within the past 17 days.

The rise in human-animal conflicts has left villagers living in constant fear, who had appealed for a shoot-at-sight order from the district administration.

Altaf Hussain, Wildlife Warden (Central), informed the news agency KNO that they have issued the shoot-at-sight order for the "man-eater" leopard.

"Our priority will be tranquilising or trapping the animal, but if these measures fail, shooting will be considered. After assessing the situation, orders have been issued to hunt down the said animal following the necessary formalities," he said.

Over the past 17 days, the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department has conducted extensive search operations, utilising drones in various areas where the presence of the leopard is suspected.

Officials have advised residents to stay indoors, especially during morning and evening hours, to avoid further attacks until the leopard is captured.

Stay indoors, asks Deputy Commissioner Budgam

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Akshay Labroo asked people in the area to stay indoors, particularly in the morning and evening, and to take extra care of their children by not letting them go outside.

Speaking to media persons following his visit to Hariwani where a 7-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard, the DC advised people to exercise extra caution until the operation is over, especially with regard to their children, and to walk in groups to prevent any more unfortunate incidents.

"I urge people to cooperate with the police, wildlife, and revenue departments to make this operation effective. Only then will people be able to heave a sigh of relief when the leopard that has turned into a monster is swiftly apprehended," he said.

"In order for the wildlife team and police to follow up on leads, sightings can also be reported to our SDPO, SHO and police department, who are already at work," the DC said.

Earlier, speaking to the media persons, SDM Khansahib said the administration is keeping a close eye on the leopard. "Cages had already been set up in Samsan village, but unfortunately, the leopard moved and attacked another child four kilometres away in Hariwani," he said.

He said that under the Deputy Commissioner's direction, a wildlife team has been permanently deployed in the village, and community awareness campaigns have been conducted, advising residents to stay inside during the morning and evening hours and to take extra care of their children until the leopard is apprehended.

Constant fear due to horrific attacks

Describing the horrific incident, Ajaz Ahmad, a local of Hariwani, said that 7-year-old Toiba Mushtaq was taken away from the lawns of her home in the evening, despite her mother being with her when they stepped outside to use the toilet. Her body was later found in nearby bushes.

"Out of the three brothers, only one brother had a child, and she was that, but the leopard also made her its victim. The Wildlife Department hasn't succeeded in catching it, and the district administration has remained a silent spectator," he lamented. "No orders are being given by them to kill this leopard even after two killings. We are living in constant fear, and our children are not able to go out of the house, affecting their education."

Javed Ahmad, another local of Hariwani village, said the recent leopard attacks have left them trembling with fear. "We cannot even step out of our homes without worrying about the safety of our children. Yesterday, after killing a minor girl, the leopard attacked another person in the same village, but he luckily managed to escape," he said.

"This man-eating leopard attacks by entering the yards of houses, and fearing that, a person cannot even step outside the houses. The Wildlife Department has very few staff, due to which they are not able to catch the leopard," he added.

BUDGAM — An 8-year-old boy was injured by a fierce leopard on the loose which the Wildlife Department officials are managing to capture alive in an area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Reports reaching the Srinagar-based news agency KDC said that a fierce leopard on the loose on Monday evening attacked a minor boy identified as Saqib Javid, a resident of Samsun locality in Khansahib area of Budgam district.

After the incident, the minor boy was immediately shifted to District Hospital Budgam, where his condition is stated to be stable.

An official said that efforts are underway to ensure the well-being of residents while also addressing the broader issue of wildlife conservation and habitat management in Budgam and surrounding regions.

Pertinently, a nine-year-old girl was mauled to death by this leopard in this area last Monday.

BUDGAM — The body of the Budgam youth who was found dead at a college hostel in West Bengal last week reached his native village in central Kashmir's Budgam district on Sunday afternoon.

Locals told the news agency KNO that on June 2, the family members received a call from college authorities that their son Muhammad Umar Ganai, who was studying engineering at the Budge Budge Institute of Technology Kolkata, was found dead at the college hostel.

However, two days later, on Sunday afternoon, the body of the deceased reached his native village of Debipora Yarikhah in Khansahab tehsil of Budgam where thousands of people were seen wailing over his death.

An official said that they have started an investigation to ascertain the cause of the death.

KOLKATTA — A young student from central Kashmir’s Budgam district was found dead at a college hostel in the West Bengal capital city of Kolkatta. The student is a resident of Yarikhah Khansahab village of Budgam.

Family sources told the news agency KNT that they received a call from college authorities that their ward was found dead at the college hostel.

The victim student Muhammad Umar Ganai son of Bashir Ahmed was studying engineering at the Budge Budge Institute of Technology, popularly known as BBIT College.

The cause of death is not known yet. “We have left for Kolkatta to ascertain the cause of death of our beloved,” one of the family members said.

BUDGAM — Four persons including a young couple were killed in two different lightning strikes in Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

Two persons died in a lightning strike in the upper reaches of Khansahab in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said.

A police officer told the news agency KNT that an elderly lady identified as Taja Begum and another person Muhammad Sultan Chopan, both residents of Gurwaith Kalan hamlet were passing through a meadow at Sochalpathri Mujpathri, the upper area of Doodhpathri tourist spot, when suddenly it started raining. They were struck by lightning while rushing to a safer place.

A police party from Police Station Khansahab rushed to the spot despite inclement weather and shifted the bodies to the hospital for post-mortem.

In another lightning strike in Bujbagh village of the saffron town of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, a young couple died. Police identified them as Hilal Ahmed (25) and his wife Rozy Jan (23).

After completing medico-legal formalities, police handed over the dead bodies to the family.

SRINAGAR — Two teenage girls tried to end their lives in two different parts of Kashmir Valley.

In one such incident in Khansahab village of Budgam, a 14-year-old girl consumed some poisonous substance at her home and was shifted to Sub District Hospital Khansahab, where from she was referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for further treatment.

In another incident, a 19-year-old girl from a Uri village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district took a poison-like substance. The girl was shifted to SDH Uri for treatment.

Police have taken cognizance of both incidents and registered cases under relevant sections of law.

SRINAGAR — Police on Monday arrested two persons for allegedly beating a 25-year-old youth to death at Kachwari area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Earlier, the youth identified as Fayaz Ahmed Najar son of Abdul Rashid Najar of Gurwaith Khansahib was attacked and was subsequently shifted to SKIMS Soura here in critical condition and succumbed to injuries, officials said.

In a statement issued to CNS, a police spokesman said that two persons namely Tahir Bashir Khan son of Bashir Ahmed Khan and Hilal Ahmed Lone son of Abdul Ganie Lone, both residents of Kachwari Khansahib, have been arrested in connection with the death of a person identified as Fayaz Ahmed Najar son of Abdul Rashid Najar, resident of Gurwaith Khansahib.

“The deceased was hit on his head by the two accused persons at Kachwari. Accordingly, he was taken to SKIMS in a critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries,” he added.

Meanwhile, a case (FIR 60/2022) was registered at Police Station Khansahib under section 302 IPC and investigation set into motion.