Child mauled by bear

A four-year-old girl was reportedly mauled by a bear in Budgam district of Kashmir valley, prompting police to launch a search operation in the nearby forest to recover the minor, police said.
Farooq Ahmad Wagay, a resident of Magray Mohalla locality of Bungund, reported in police station Chadoora that his daughter, Bisma, was carried away by a bear which ventured into the village from nearby forest last evening, a police spokesman said.
He said police and locals have launched a massive search operation for the girl in the forest area but the success eluded the rescue teams so far.
The rescue operation was in progress when last reports were received, the spokesman said.

Wild animals, mostly bears and leopards, venturing into the villages on the fringes of forests have increased manifold since the beginning of this month following moderate to heavy snowfall in the high altitude areas of the valley.
The man-animal conflict has claimed dozens of lives this year.