In a startling incident, an eight-year-old boy named Sangam Lal was attacked and injured, allegedly by a wolf, in Yadavpur village, located in the Tejwapur development block, just 10 kilometers from Bahraich city. The attack occurred on Thursday night, marking yet another animal assault in the region despite heightened security measures by the district administration.
The boy, who was fetching water with his sister at the time, was rushed to the district hospital for treatment. This incident follows a series of similar attacks in the area, raising concerns among locals.
On Friday morning, a separate attack occurred in the same Yadavpur village, where 65-year-old Kriparam and his grandson Sonu sustained injuries. In this case, villagers quickly responded by rounding up and killing the attacking animal, which Kriparam later identified as a dog.
Ajit Pratap Singh, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bahraich, stated that no wolf pugmarks were found at the scene of either attack, casting doubt on the theory that wolves were responsible. He speculated that Sangam Lal’s injuries were also likely caused by a dog, given that no wolf tracks were discovered in the area. However, the boy’s family insists that he was attacked by a wolf.
The confusion deepens as reports from Thursday suggest that wolves were located in Pachdevri village, around 20 kilometers from Yadavpur. Previous attacks in the region, including one on a 5-year-old named Afsan in Girdharpur village on September 3, and a fatal attack on 3-year-old Anjali in Nauwan Garethi on September 2, have fueled fears of wolf activity.
Despite these attacks, the DFO remains cautious about attributing the incidents to wolves, citing the proximity of Yadavpur to Bahraich city, where residential areas and sugarcane fields are intertwined. Wolves typically seek refuge in dense fields or river basins, making it unlikely for them to venture so close to human settlements.
The authorities are continuing to investigate, but with no confirmed wolf sightings in the immediate vicinity, the true nature of the animal responsible remains uncertain. Meanwhile, locals remain on high alert, as the possibility of further attacks lingers.
Sources By Agencies