Maneater of Devprayag / Chandmari.

[prashantsingh]

Pranshant,

I think its time you start to compile and proof read your manuscript. .

Not yet Sir. The most thrilling part is yet to come.

like they say in Bollywood.
"Kahani abhi baki hai Dost"

[ckkalyan]

Not yet Sir. The most thrilling part is yet to come.
like they say in Bollywood.
"Kahani abhi baki hai Dost"

Quite agree.... Baaki Kahani abhi aur dil-chasp aur hon-haar, banegi....

[dilip]

[kragiesardar]

Great reading Prashant! Awaiting the next part.

[dr.jayakumar]

mr.prashant,
is the hunt still on?
regards

[prashantsingh]

mr.prashant,
is the hunt still on?
regards

No updates from Devprayag.
On 15 January 2012 a 12 years old boy was killed by a leopard in a village in New Tehri. Picked up from his backyard in the cover of darkness.His half eaten body was recovered the next day by the villagers.
A distance of 50 miles from Devprayag by road......but (interestingly) a distance of just over 15 miles as the crow flies.
Since this is the first incidence of it's kind in this area.The leopard has not been declared a maneater yet.
If this is the same maneater or some other is anyone's guess.
it's a wait and watch situation right now.

[prashantsingh]

18 Feb 2012. Village Mandara. New Tehri
A two year old girl was dragged away by a leopard while she was playing in the courtyard of her house.Her remains were found the next morning in a forest close to the village.
The second incident in the area since January.
The "New Tehri" leopard has not yet been declared a maneater.
New Tehri is a reasonably new township which came up after the "old" Tehri town was submerged completely under the largest dam in the country "Tehri Dam".


Ever since I came back from Devprayag I have been following most of the leopard attacks(on humans) in the state(in local news papers). I have gone through more than half a dozen but have found the New Tehri maneater of special interest.

Most of the (other) attacks took place when people entered the jungles to collect fodder/firewood. A case of man encroaching upon the leopard's habitat.Here I would give the benefit of doubt to the poor animal.

On the other hand in both the New Tehri cases the maneater entered human habitation.He appeared to be a seasoned maneater.
He was boisterous enough to lift the children from within the boundary walls of the village homes. Smart enough to know that man is the easiest animal to kill. Cunning enough not to be spotted by anyone. Leaving behind nothing but his pugmarks.
He is one who (I feel) has feasted on human flesh before.I have some reason to believe that yesterdays Maneater of Devprayag is todays Maneater of New Tehri.
I might be wrong in my hypothesis but the fact that this animal is bold enough to enter a village and kill children should be enough proof for the Forest Dept. to declare him a maneater. Else I see no reason why he will stop killing more humans in the future.

[kragiesardar]

Dude, you sound like Jim Corbett. Very good reading. Awaiting more.

[dev]

Dude, you sound like Jim Corbett. Very good reading. Awaiting more.

Err...reincarnations have been known to occur. If Prashant starts to use the word,"Shaitan" more often later...

[prashantsingh]

ha ha ha.
Corbett was a class apart. He did most of his hunting without a flashlight. Much of Garhwal and Kumaon had poor roads in those days. He had to undertake long walks for most of his hunts.

Did you notice that it took the New Tehri maneater slightly more than a month to strike again. He had had his fill after devouring the 12 year old boy.
This time he has killed a little 2 yr old girl. Not enough flesh on her to last for long. If he doesnt kill something else, I won't be surprised if he strikes again......and strikes soon.
There is this strange uneasiness within me. I can almost forsee another attack. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done till the permit is issued.

[prashantsingh]

OT
Did anyone read about the Leopard attack near Mumbai? A five year old boy was killed and eaten by a leopard . One hand, a leg and a part of his head were found in the bushes near a colony in Goregaon.The boy had gone missing a fortnight ago and his remains were found only yesterday.With the increase in human population and loss of habitat.
The man animal conflict is bound to rise in the years to come......all over the country.
As for the Maneater of Devprayag. He seems to have vanished into thin air.
Singh is not surprised. He calls this the "Off Season". With the snow melting in the upper Himalayas. The herbivores migrate to feast on the fresh tender grass in the maidaans.The carnivores follow them.
But he is quite sure that the beast will come back, and like the Phoenix rise again as winter sets in and snow forces him down.

[Gursarvinder Singh]

Well Brother Parshant,
I wish I could have joined you for this cause. But I am too occupied that even with my deepest dedication, I can't join. May be other well equipped members are here who can join your cause and save lives.
Regards,
G.Singh

[rushit]

Hello Mr. Prashant,

I just joined this site. You have compiled an amazing story boss. You are surely gifted with words. Are you a lawyer by any chance?

Beautiful story, amazingly told, nailbiting suspense....

Waiting for your updates..... and a good ending....

Regards,

Rushit.

[prashantsingh]

The Navratras herald the change of seasons.
As winter sets in. Leopard attacks become more common.
Today I read of the first such attack this winter in the local newspaper.
14 Oct 2012
Village Dungripanth Dist Srinagar.Garhwal.Uttarakhand.
A 9 years old boy is returning home late evening with a utensil full of water. Midway he encounters a leopard. The cat attacks the kid but the boy strikes back by throwing the utensil on the leopard's face. The leopard is stunned by the child's counterattack and runs away.
The Dist. Admn. has forwarded the child's name for the National bravery awards.
What a kid!!!

[Safarigent]

Guldar.......
The name of your book.