Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh: Panic gripped the Kaiserganj area of Bahraich on Sunday after a wolf reportedly snatched a four-month-old infant from his home in Mallahanpurwa village. The incident has triggered a massive search operation involving forest officials, local residents, and drone-assisted reconnaissance, but as of now, both the child and the predator remain untraced.

According to eyewitnesses, the infant, Subhash, son of Santosh and Kiran, was asleep beside his mother when the wolf entered the house around 1:30 am. “The predator silently walked in, lifted the baby from the mother’s arms, clamped him in its jaws, and fled,” a resident said. Villagers immediately pursued the animal, but it vanished into the darkness with the child.

Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav confirmed the incident, stating that the forest department has launched drone-assisted combing operations across riverbanks, sugarcane fields, and other areas where the wolf may have been sighted. Trained shooters and rescue specialists are part of the team, prepared to capture the predator alive or, if necessary, neutralize it to prevent further attacks.

A Village Gripped by Fear

Mallahanpurwa has been terrorized by repeated wolf attacks over the past nine days. The village has witnessed three attacks in quick succession, including:

• November 28: A five-year-old boy named Star was killed in a wolf attack.
• December 5: Another five-year-old girl sustained injuries from a wolf attack.
• December 7: The abduction of infant Subhash.

The ongoing assaults have left villagers anxious, prompting constant vigilance, especially at night. Locals have expressed deep concern for the safety of children in the region, fearing further attacks as the wolf remains at large.

Historical Context of Wolf Attacks in Bahraich

Bahraich district has been grappling with a series of wolf-related incidents since September 9. Over the past three months, these attacks have claimed the lives of eight children and an elderly couple, while 32 people have sustained injuries. The repeated incidents have raised serious questions about wildlife management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and safety measures in villages located close to forested areas.

In response, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial survey of the affected region on September 27, ordering the forest department to ensure that the wolf responsible is captured safely or, if that fails, shot to prevent further loss of life. Since September 28, forest teams have killed four wolves as part of ongoing operations in Bahraich.

Current Search Operations

Following the abduction of Subhash, the forest department has intensified operations in coordination with the villagers. According to DFO Yadav:

• Teams are conducting thorough searches along riverbanks, sugarcane fields, and other potential hideouts.
• Drone surveillance is being used to track movements in difficult terrain.
• Trained shooters and rescue personnel from other districts and states have been deployed to assist.
• Efforts are focused both on recovering the infant safely and neutralizing the predator if necessary.

The incident highlights the escalating human-wildlife conflict in Bahraich, where proximity to forests and limited predator control measures have created a perilous situation for residents. Villagers have appealed for increased vigilance, protective measures at night, and more proactive interventions by authorities to prevent further tragedies.

Community Response and Government Measures

Local authorities are urging parents to remain vigilant, especially at night, and to avoid leaving children unattended in areas near forests. Villagers are also helping in the search, forming human chains and patrolling fields with the forest teams.

Authorities have emphasized that while the primary goal is the safe recovery of the infant, ensuring the predator is captured or neutralized is crucial to prevent further attacks. The Forest Department has assured that continuous monitoring and rapid response teams will remain deployed until the threat is completely mitigated.

This latest incident underscores the urgent need for sustainable measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in vulnerable areas, including enhanced fencing, community awareness programs, and improved emergency response infrastructure. Meanwhile, the residents of Mallahanpurwa wait anxiously for any news of the missing infant, hoping for a safe and swift resolution to the crisis.