Second leopard mauling reported within a day after deadly attack on minor girl in AJK village

A teenage boy was injured after being attacked by a leopard in Nalai Dabra’n village of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Jhelum Valley district, the second such incident reported in the area within a day.

The attack came shortly after an eight-year-old girl was mauled to death by what is believed to be the same predator in the same locality.

Mudassir Ali Awan, 17, a 10th-grade student, was pounced on by the leopard while returning home from the funeral of the deceased girl. He cried for help and tried to fight off the wild cat.

Hearing his screams, villagers rushed to the scene and attempted to save him by hitting the leopard with sticks and stones. Eventually, the animal retreated into the forest.

According to reports, Mudassir sustained minor injuries and scratches. His clothes were also torn during self-defence.

“It’s a miracle that he survived. Had the villagers not been nearby, the consequences could have been catastrophic,” said Naseer Awan, a resident of Nalai Dabra’n and an eyewitness to the incident.

VIDEO: Wildlife team frees leopard in AJK

Earlier, before attacking Mudassir, the leopard had dragged a minor girl from the courtyard of her home into the nearby forest, where her mutilated body was discovered hours later.

“The Wildlife Department and the district administration did not take any action even after a child was killed,” lamented Mr Awan. “We are now living in constant fear. The government must either catch or relocate this leopard before more lives are lost.”

On July 24, local journalists raised concerns on social media about the increasing presence of leopards in residential areas, calling for urgent action, but their warnings went unheeded.

Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Raja Farooq Haider, also voiced serious concern about the incident, warning that the unregulated growth in the leopard population was becoming a significant threat to human safety.

“Yesterday’s incident reflects an extremely alarming situation,” he said. “While the preservation of wildlife is important, it cannot come at the cost of human lives. There is nothing more precious than a human life.”

Read: White leopard hunted at Kerthar National Park

Haider urged the Wildlife Department to explore options such as relocating or even exporting leopards from areas where people live. 

He added, “If individuals end up killing these animals in self-defence, they cannot be held responsible.”

He also expressed condolences to the grieving family and called on the government to provide them with compensation. Haider stressed the need for urgent protective measures, especially in high-risk areas, to safeguard children and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Although wildlife experts and residents have long demanded a sustainable plan to manage the issue, the response has largely been limited and reactive, hindered by the Wildlife Department’s lack of funding and manpower.