Lucknow: Hardoi forest department teams on Saturday conducted an extensive search operation across a 5-7 km area and kept a drone surveillance operation running for nearly six hours after an elderly woman was killed in a suspected wild animal attack in Bhikhpur Aima village under Atarouli police station area of Hardoi district on Friday.The victim was attacked while sleeping outside her son’s under-construction house.According to family members, the incident came to light around 4 am when they woke up after hearing the barking of dogs. They found the woman lying in a pool of blood with deep wounds on her neck and scratch or bite marks on her face.Following the incident, the forest department deployed three teams to trace the animal believed to have carried out the attack. Teams conducted combing operations from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning.Despite the search, officials could find only footprints and no other conclusive evidence to establish the location of the animal. The search operation remains underway.There had been speculation among villagers about the presence of a leopard in the area. However, forest officials have ruled out a leopard based on the footprints found at the site.Divisional Forest Officer Shinde Jayant Bhimrao said the footprints suggested the animal belonged to the canine family, which includes jackals, wolves and foxes.Forest officials are also examining the possibility that the attack may have been carried out by a rabies-infected jackal. The behaviour of the animal has raised suspicion because it reportedly attacked the woman but did not appear to feed on her.The incident has triggered fear among villagers. Many villagers are keeping their doors and windows shut at night, while some have been staying awake in groups to keep a watch.Forest teams have also maintained night patrols in the area.
