BAHRAICH, Oct. 17 -- A wolf that had been terrorising Majhara Taukli and adjoining villages under the Kaiserganj forest range under Bahraich division was shot dead by a forest department team around 4 am on Thursday. The animal ran a short distance after being struck by the bullet during the operation in Bhrigupurwa hamlet of Majhara Taukli and then collapsed, officials confirmed. The operation was led by former Bahraich forest officer Ajit Pratap Singh, currently posted in Ghazipur. Singh said five others played key roles in the mission - forest watcher Rafiq, drone operators Soham Dutta and Mohti, and local villagers Hira and Mulla, who acted as guides."We tracked animal and spotted it around 4 am," Singh said. "It was chased for roughly a kilometre across sandy terrain. When attempts to capture it failed, the team shot the wolf with a 12-bore gun. It was found to be a male," he added. Veterinary doctor Deepak Verma, who conducted an autopsy, said the animal was aged around five years and was not suffering from any infection. "The viscera sample of the wolf has been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly for further investigation," he added. Meanwhile, the department has maintained heightened patrols, drone surveillance, to prevent further incidents.htc...