Villagers allegedly kill a leopard in Madhya Pradesh

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Jan 3 (ANI): Villagers allegedly killed a leopard in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar District after it tried to attack several people.

The leopard entered the village, about eight kilometers from Dhar and attacked six villagers, after which the panicked villagers attacked it back with stones, swords and sticks.

The villagers informed the police immediately about the incident. When police officials reached the venue, they were completely unarmed.

While the police officials and the villagers were waiting for the officials of the forest department to arrive, the leopard tried to escape and in the process injured another villager.

"We gathered around the fields and decided to move further in a group but everybody was moving in parts. Suddenly, it caught hold of a child. Seeing this, I couldn't stop myself and jumped in to save the child. I had a sword in my hand, which I pushed into the leopard's mouth, but it still bit my hands. Thankfully the villagers came to my rescue or else I would have died by now," said Pradeep, a victim.

Following this, the villagers attacked the leopard with sticks, stones and swords.

The animal struggled to death in front of the police officials and also the forest department officials who also arrived in the meantime.

"Our staff controlled the mob that started on the venue because wildlife panics after seeing a mob. The injured have been admitted to hospitals. Their treatment expenses will be met by the forest department. Rupees 20, 000 will be provided to each of the injured as of now. If more will be needed then we will decide on that later," said Raghuvendra Shrivastava, district forest officer, Dhar.

According to the police officials, post mortem was conducted on the leopard.

In recent years, incidents of wild animals straying into urban areas have increased owing to loss of habitat and increased human encroachment into forest areas.

In India, leopards are found all over the country. The animal often enters human habitat in search of food. It is illegal to kill leopards in India, an endangered specie, often hunted for fur. (ANI)