Srinagar, June 04:

Body of a 4-yr-old girl, who went missimg from her residence in Ompora Housing Colony in central Kashmir’s Budgam district last evening was found in a nearby forest nursery after allegedly mauled to death by a leopard, police said.

News agency KDC quoting a police official reported that Adha Shakil, daughter of Shakil Ahmad, was taken by a leopard while playing in the lawns of her house last evening.

The official sald that a search operation was soon launched by police, wildlife teams and army to trace out the missing girl.

The body of the girl was traced in a nearby forest nursery this morning, he said.

Pertinently, the big cats have been frequently spotted in the area of late with officials blaming the Forest Department nursery they say acts as a safe haven for the animals.