In Raichur district, Karnataka villagers killed a leopard that had injured four people even as the forest officials attempted to capture the animal. On the outskirts of Kamdhal village in Deodurg taluk, an enraged crowd killed the leopard after it attacked four people in front of forest, police and revenue officials.
Following the incident, forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has initiated an inquiry into the lapses leading to the attack and the leopard's death.
The injured villagers were identified as Ranganath Nayak (30), Papanna Raju (35), N. Ramu Gowda (26), and B. Nagaraj (28). All the injured are currently receiving treatment at Devadurga Taluk Government Hospital.
The incident occurred in Devadurga range forest limits when a villager from Karadigudda village was attacked by a leopard while going to defecate in the fields early in the morning. The villager cried for help which alerted others and three individuals rushed to his aid. However, the leopard attacked these three villagers as well.
Following the attacks, hundreds of villagers armed with sticks and stones gathered and killed the leopard before forest officials and police could intervene, according to a report on India Today. Despite efforts to control the crowd, the situation remained chaotic.
Minister Eshwar Khandre emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into the incident focusing on the reasons behind the failure to capture the leopard and prevent the attacks.
The news of the attack quickly spread, drawing people from Kamdhal and nearby villages to the scene. Later, the leopard, estimated to be 3 to 4 years old, was taken to the Veterinary Hospital in Deodurg for an autopsy, as per a report on The Hindu.
In a similar incident earlier this year, locals in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district captured a leopard that had killed ten goats. Despite prior reports to forest officials, no action was taken, prompting villagers to set up traps. Forest officers later secured the leopard and relocated it to ensure the safety of both villagers and wildlife.