Leopard snatches 5-year-old girl from Budgam home, search underway

Srinagar, Mar 28: A harrowing episode unfolded in Budgam district of central Kashmir as a 5-year-old girl, Toiba Mushtaq, daughter of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, was snatched from her residence's lawns by a leopard in the evening hours.

The distressing incident occurred in the Hariwani area, sending shockwaves through the community. Promptly responding to the alarming situation, authorities launched a thorough search operation, deploying police, wildlife teams, and local residents to comb the area and locate the missing child.

The incident has heightened concerns among residents, particularly in light of frequent big cat sightings in the vicinity. Authorities are scrutinizing the Forest Department nursery, suspecting it to serve as a potential refuge for such animals. (KDC)