Sumbal, Aug 29: In a tragic incident, a seven-year-old boy was mauled to death by  a leopard in Nesbal area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday.

An official told that a boy had gone missing on Monday evening following which a massive search operation was  launched by Police, 13RR , CRPF, locals to trace him

According to them, bloodstains and clothes of the boy were found near a field, leading them to suspect that a leopard, which had been sighted often in the area, had attacked the boy,officials said.

After search of over 10 hours, the boy’s mutilated body was found in a nearby hillock in Nesbal in early morning on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Zaid Bashir s/o Bashir Ahmad of Nesbal . After legal medical for formalities the body was handed over to his family members for last rites.(KNO)