At least 17 persons were injured when a wolf went berserk in some villages of Yeola taluka in Nashik district on Sunday night; in retaliation, vengeful villagers beat the animal to death.
The wolf, which some people claimed was rabid, strayed from the forests of Yeola into Aherwadi, Kherdiphata, and Pimpalphute villages, biting people who were sleeping outside their houses.
Enraged villagers in Kherdiphata attacked the animal with sticks and stones and killed it. At least 17 persons, including men, women, and children, were injured in the attack. Seven of them were admitted in critical condition to Nashik Civil Hospital. Three others were admitted to the rural hospital in Nagarsul. The rest were allowed to go after being administered first aid.
Forest officer SD Gunjal, tehsildar Anil Pawar, and block development officer Ravindra Pardeshi later visited the villages.
This part of Yeola taluka is surrounded by social forestry, some forest land, and farmland. Many animals, including wolves and deer, have found refuge in these forests.
