Leopard Attacks Injure Two Kanwariyas in Bijnor During Winter Pilgrimage
Two Kanwariyas, including an eight-year-old boy, sustained injuries in suspected leopard attacks in Nehtaur town of Bijnor district during the ongoing winter Kanwar Yatra. The incidents have prompted local authorities to significantly intensify surveillance and security measures along the pilgrimage route.
Details of the Attacks
The first victim, eight-year-old Aniket Kumar, was attacked on Friday evening after returning from Haridwar with a group of devotees. According to police reports, the group managed to raise an alarm and drive the animal away from the scene. Aniket was promptly taken to a community health centre where he received treatment and was later discharged.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday night, 32-year-old Sonu, a resident of Nangaliya Bijna village in Aligarh district, was injured in a similar incident at the same location. Due to poor visibility in the darkness, devotees present could not clearly identify the attacking animal, but forest officials strongly suspect it was a leopard based on the nature of the injuries and local wildlife patterns. Sonu also received medical treatment and was discharged.
Increased Security Measures
With Saturday marking the final day of the winter Kanwar Yatra, police and district administration officials have implemented enhanced security arrangements throughout the region. District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur has directed forest authorities to implement comprehensive preventive measures in areas known to be leopard-prone.
Divisional Forest Officer Jai Singh Kushwah confirmed that forest teams have been conducting regular patrols along vulnerable stretches of the pilgrimage route. Additionally, authorities have installed camera traps at strategic locations to monitor wildlife movement and prevent further incidents.
Leopard Captured and Regional Context
In a related development, forest officials successfully trapped a leopard in a cage along the Kanwar Yatra route near Raipur Khas village in Najibabad tehsil. This capture occurred as part of the intensified wildlife management efforts during the pilgrimage period.
The Bijnor region has experienced frequent leopard movement, particularly through expansive sugarcane fields that provide cover for the big cats. Multiple incidents involving leopards have been documented in recent years, highlighting the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in agricultural areas.
Pilgrimage Details and Devotee Safety
Thousands of devotees from multiple districts including Bijnor, Amroha, Aligarh, Bareilly, Rampur, Sambhal, and Moradabad pass through this area during the Kanwar Yatra. These pilgrims collect sacred Ganga water from Haridwar and are scheduled to offer it at various Shiv temples on February 15th.
The district administration has emphasized that devotee safety remains the highest priority during the concluding days of the pilgrimage. Additional security personnel have been deployed along the route, and forest department teams continue their vigilance to prevent further wildlife encounters.
