Nepalese national among 2 women killed in leopard attacks in UP’s Balrampur

Manoj Kumar, Sub-Divisional Officer of the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, said after the incident, some Nepalese residents who were present in the forest attempted to take Urmila’s body. They had reached the no-man’s land near the border when forest and police teams, alerted about the situation, rushed to the spot and stopped them. The body was subsequently taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination, said Kumar.

Urmila’s family members later arrived in India to take custody of her body.

Rakesh Kumar Jayant, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Tulsipur, said the Nepal embassy has been informed about the death, adding that the body will be handed over to the family only after all mandatory legal and administrative formalities are completed.

Officials said although the Indo-Nepal border in Balrampur is largely open and permits free movement of people from both countries, the death having occurred on Indian territory necessitates the completion of official procedures before the body can be released to the family.

Neighbouring Bahraich also saw a leopard attack last week.

The animal had attacked and injured two people in Chanaini village of Nawabganj block, confirmed Dr Ram Singh Yadav, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Bahraich.