Sopore: In yet another incident of man- animal conflict, four persons including three women were mauled by a wild bear at Kannipora, Tujjar Sharif around 12 kilometres from Sopore this morning.

Locals said that at around 8:30 am in the morning, a wild bear attacked four persons while they were on their way to orchards. The injured were rushed to Sub District Hospital, Sopore for immediate treatment.

The injured were identified as ZahidaBano, SakeenaBano, Posha Begum and Mushtaq Ahmed.  ZahidaBano was referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment, hospital sources said.

The residents of Kannipora Tujjar said that wild animal attacks have increased manifolds in past few months and blamed wild life department of “callous” approach.

“Last month, a wild bear mauled many people here but wild life department is in no mood to help the locals against these attacks,” said Abdul Jabbar, a local at Kannipora.

However, Sadiq Ahmad, North Kashmir, Wild Life Warden refuted the allegations leveled by the locals. He said that after the recent attack, a cage was put in place to capture the wild bear adding that the department has also requested people to inform the officials in any such eventuality.

“A team has been dispatched to Kannipora right now to locate the bear. Upon locating the wild animal, if necessary I will give elimination orders to my team,” Wild Life Warden added. (Kashmir Wire)

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