Movement of wildlife animals in Kupwara area leaves people on edge

Kupwara,  July 13: Wild animals have damaged several graves in the Niechama Rajwar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district thereby causing immense fear among locals.

The residents said that for the last two years they have been witnessing such incidents where several graves were damaged. "In fact a dead body was taken out of the grave a few days back," they said.

"Movement of wild animals into human habitations has caused fear among locals with the result that we remain confined to four walls after sunset," said a local.

"Earlier our standing crops including maize, apples were being damaged by the wild animals but now our graves are being desecrated which we can't tolerate," he added.

The residents have however shown strong resentment against the Wildlife Department for lack of men and machinery to deal with this situation. They demanded a separate unit of Wildlife be set up at Zachaldara.

It may be recalled that previous year such incidents were witnessed in the Rajpora area also following which the Wildlife Department and locals were successful in capturing a brown bear.