Leopard killed

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

JORHAT, February 7: A full–grown female leopard attacked and injured four persons, identified as Maheshwar Bora, Bakhob Chandra Neog, Ranjit Bora and Bijit Bora, in the Disoi gar area of Jorhat on Saturday.

The leopard was first seen hiding in a nearby bamboo bush by Maheshwar Bora.  The leopard first attacked and seriously injured him. Hearing his cry, the two others, Bakhob Neog and Bijit Bora, went to his rescue when they too were pounced upon by the wild cat. In the ensuing scuffle that lasted for more than 25 minutes as accounted by eyewitnesses, both of them suffered injuries and it was only when the fourth person, Ranjit Bora, hit the leopard twice with an axe did the leopard filly succumbed to her injuries.

Had the Forest Department officials acted swiftly and reached the spot on time when they were first informed about the attack on Maheshwar, injuries to the other three persons could have been averted. But they arrived only after two hours of the first attack and took possession of the dead cat while facing a volley of questions and the wrath of the agitated people.

Meanwhile, all the four injured have been admitted into the surgical ward of the JMCH and condition of Maheshwar Bora and Bakhob Chandra Neog is stated to be partially critical owing to tremendous blood loss.