Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh | August 15, 2026

Panic has gripped villages bordering the Katarniaghat Wildlife Division in Bahraich after a 75-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy were killed in two separate suspected leopard attacks within hours of each other on Friday.

The first incident occurred in the Dharmapur range, where 75-year-old Jamia of Gujarhana village went to a nearby field to graze her goats at around 2 pm. When she failed to return, her family and villagers began searching for her. The goats returned home around 7 pm, but Jamia was missing.

During the search, villagers discovered a portion of her leg in a field. Forest officials also found pugmarks nearby, raising suspicion that a leopard had attacked and dragged her away. Search teams continued efforts to recover the remaining remains and establish what happened.

In the second incident, seven-year-old Suraj of Chamaran Purwa village in the Motipur range was reportedly attacked while walking towards agricultural fields with another child. According to villagers, a leopard emerged from bushes, seized the boy and dragged him into the vegetation.

The other child escaped and raised an alarm. Villagers subsequently launched a search and found Suraj’s mutilated body near the bushes at around 8 pm. Police and Forest Department teams reached the site and began investigations.

The two incidents have triggered fear among communities living along the forest boundary, with residents demanding increased patrolling, surveillance and stronger preventive measures.

Katarniaghat Divisional Forest Officer Apoorv Dixit said teams were investigating both incidents and that the final cause would be established after post-mortem reports. He also urged people living near forests and agricultural fields to remain particularly cautious during the monsoon, when dense vegetation can bring wild animals closer to human settlements.

The deaths once again highlight the continuing challenge of human-wildlife conflict around Katarniaghat, where villages bordering the forest frequently report encounters with leopards and other wild animals.