Chandrapur: In a heart-wrenching incident, a seven-year-old boy was killed in a suspected wild animal attack near Gadbori village in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, officials confirmed on Friday.
The child, identified as Prashil Baban Mankar, had gone missing on Thursday evening, prompting a frantic search by villagers and forest officials. His partially mutilated body was discovered in a nearby forested area in Sindewahi tehsil during the early hours of Friday.
Tiger or Leopard Suspected in Attack
Forest authorities believe that the boy was likely dragged into the jungle by a tiger or leopard, although the exact species has not been officially confirmed. “The nature of the injuries suggests a large carnivore was involved,” said R.M. Ramanujam, Chief Conservator of Forests.
Eyewitness accounts and pugmark evidence have led officials to suspect that a tiger or leopard strayed close to the human settlement, which borders a known wildlife corridor.
Search Launched Immediately After Disappearance
According to local sources, the boy had been playing near the edge of the village when he was suddenly dragged away by the predator. Upon realizing the child was missing, his family alerted the forest department, which launched a search operation late Thursday night. Despite efforts to track the animal and rescue the child, his remains were only found early the next morning.
“The team searched the area through the night, but dense forest and darkness hampered the effort,” a forest ranger involved in the operation said.
