Two victims of the leopard attack undergoing treatment at the taluk hospital in Deodurg on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Officials of Forest, Police and Revenue Departments rushed to Kamdhal village after receiving information of leopard attack on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
An angry mob killed a leopard on the outskirts of Kamdhal village in Deodurg taluk of Raichur district on Sunday, right in front of forest, police and revenue officials after the animal attacked three people. According to sources, the leopard attacked three people around 9 a.m. on Sunday when they were heading to work.
The injured have been identified as Ranganath, Papayya, and Ramu, and have been admitted to the taluk hospital in Deodurg, where treatment was provided and their condition was stated to be stable.
When the news of the leopard attack spread, many people from Kamdhal and surrounding villages rushed to the spot.
The leopard killed in Kamdhal village in Deodurg taluk of Raichur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
On receiving information, the Forest Department officials and staff, as well as the Police and Revenue Department officials, also rushed to the spot and started making preparations to catch the leopard by placing a cage there. The forest officials also called in a tranquillizer team from Hosapete.
The mob got angry and many began screaming and searching for the leopard, that was near some rocks. The mob attacked the leopard with stones, clubs, and other materials, killing it when it came out from behind the rocks, sources said.
“We were prepared to catch the leopard live as tranquillizer team was on the way to the village from Hospet,” Praveen, Deputy Conservator of Forests in Raichur, told The Hindu on the phone.
It was a 3-to 4-year-old leopard. The carcass was shifted to the Veterinary Hospital in Deodurg for an autopsy.
The leopard killed in Kamdhal village in Deodurga taluk of Raichur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mr. Praveen also said that a case will be registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, against the mob.
The sources said that the leopard used to stay in the surrounding areas and had attacked cattle in the past.
Responding strongly to the incident, Forest Minister B. Eshwar Khandre has ordered an inquiry on the failure by the Forest Department staff to capture the animal and also prevent its killing.
