Gurdaspur villages in grip of ‘wild dog’ fear

GURDASPUR: Fear pervades Dauwal and Tanda villages falling under Purana Shalla police station in this border district after a wild dog-like animal attacked seven persons as well as animals like cows and buffaloes.
The injured were admitted in Gurdasur Civil Hospital. While some said they were attacked by a ferocious wolf others thought it was a wild dog or a hyena.The local police and administration suggested that the residents set up village vigil committees so that the predator does not return and cause more harm.
Nasib Singh, a resident of Dauwal, said the animal attacked him around midnight when he was sleeping in the courtyard, but when he cried for help the predator ran away. Nasib, one of those undergoing treatment at the civil hospital, who had animal claw marks on his face, said the animal disappeared in the dark before he could identify it.
Bindra, Roopa Devi, Pushpa and Rajdevi, who too had a close encounter with the mysterious animal were not able to make out what which animal attacked them.
While no senior district wildlife officials were available to say which animal it could possibly be out of those found in Bet area ��� falling along river Beas ��� Purana Shalla SHO Sikandar Singh said residents of the two villages had come with this complaint on Saturday morning and they had informed the local SDM.