Stray leopard shot dead

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, January 11: An adult leopard, which strayed out of the Kaziranga tiol Park and entered the residence of a local at Jakhalabandha, was later shot dead by police personnel.

Sources said the leopard was first spotted at the courtyard of the residence of Lakhyadhar Phukan.

“The leopard attacked two of the family members, including Phukan’s wife. It entered Phukan’s residence. The leopard was kept confined to the room as the people closed the doors and windows from outside,” an eye–witness said.

A team from Kaziranga tiol Park rushed to the place and made attempts to tranquilize the animal.

“The room in which the animal was there was very dark. We could not see it. As such attempts to tranquilize it failed,” a forest official said.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) also rushed two veteririans and field staff to capture the animal.

“As attempts were made to tranquilize the animal through the ventilation openings, the leopard attacked the veteririans. It attacked another person before escaping,” said the officials.

The sources said the big was then entered the courtyard of one Kamaleshwar Barua at Baghjan village.

Later, personnel of the Mizoram Police – a battalion of which is based at the Bagori – shot dead the animal in a field.

Amidst the drama, locals created a ruckus and even blocked the road protesting the alleged failure of the forest personnel to capture the animal. A WTI vehicle was also damaged by the irate locals. Some forest staff were also manhandled by the villagers.