The reign of terror unleashed by wolves in Bahraich district continued on Monday after a three-year-old boy was killed in a fresh attack, pushing the death toll to 13—11 of them children—over the past three and a half months.
Toddler snatched beside sleeping mother
The incident occurred in Rasulpur village under Fakharpur police station limits around 4.30 am. The child, identified as Ansh (3), was sleeping beside his mother in the verandah of their house when a wolf reportedly entered the premises and dragged him away.
Despite desperate cries from the mother and a chase by family members armed with sticks, the animal disappeared into nearby fields amid dense morning fog.
Body recovered after six-hour search
Confirming the incident, Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav said a massive search operation involving villagers, police and forest department teams was launched immediately. After nearly six hours, the child’s body was recovered from a nearby area.
“The wolf had fed on the child. Both legs were found eaten,” the DFO said, adding that the boy’s father, who works in Punjab, was informed later.
Attack in densely populated area raises alarm
Officials described the incident as highly unusual, noting that the house is located in a thickly populated locality with pucca houses and not near sugarcane fields, where such attacks usually occur.
The latest site is nearly 15 kilometres away from earlier hotspots in Godhaiya villages 1 to 4, indicating that wolves may have shifted to a new pocket.
Forest teams intensify operations
Forest department teams have been deployed with firecrackers, night-vision drone cameras and trained shooters to track the predators. However, dense fog has hampered visibility and search efforts.
According to officials, only one or two wolves involved in recent attacks are believed to be active. Six wolves have already been eliminated as part of a special operation.
Fear grips villages despite assurances
Earlier this month, a one-year-old girl was killed on December 13, while two five-year-old girls were injured in separate attacks on December 5. Panic continues to grip rural pockets, with parents fearful of letting children sleep or play even inside their homes.
Forest and police authorities have assured intensified patrolling, cages, thermal drones and night surveillance, but Monday’s tragedy has renewed concerns over public safety and the urgent need to end the wolf menace.