Mumbai security guard attacked by jackal fights back, is bitten thrice before escaping

Rakesh Shukla said he could have died if the animal attacked him from behind, or bit him on the neck

A security guard who was attacked by a jackal in Ghatkopar (East) on Monday night fought back and was able to defend himself despite being bitten thrice.

Shukla said he had spotted jackals in the area before, but they had never attacked him. (Photo for representation)

Rakesh Shukla, 42, who works at a security agency, was attacked by the jackal near a mangrove patch close to the Eastern Express Highway. Shukla said he was taken aback when the jackal attacked him without any provocation.

“I reported to work at 7.30 pm and the incident occurred half-an-hour later. I stepped outside the shed to answer a phone call. I kept walking in search of a good signal when the jackal pounced on me. I grabbed its neck and pinned it down,” Shukla told HT.

Shukla suffered injuries on his left arm.

Shukla said he tried to keep the animal at bay so he would not get bitten. “The jackal bit me thrice and then fled. The situation could have been much worse if it had attacked me from behind or bit my neck. I could have died,” he said.

He said there was need for proper security in the area. “What if the animal attacks someone who is asleep?” he asked. Police have informed the forest department after the attack.

“The forest officials inspected the area, but failed to find the animal,” said Praful Phadke, senior police inspector, Pant Nagar police station.

Read: Bears strike back: 20 attacks in a year, four deaths in Maharashtra’s Buldhana