Leopard kills morning walker at Raiwala

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 30

A 25-year-old man was mauled to death by a leopard at Raiwala Saturday morning. He had gone for a morning walk when the beast attacked him.

The incident came to light last evening when the body of Rajkumar, a resident of Raiwala, was found near Nepali farms at Raiwala. Earlier, his family had been looking for him after he did not return home. Residents alleged several instances of man-animal conflict had occurred at Raiwala in the past few months but the department concerned had failed to take any action. They have threatened to hold a protest if the Forest Department did not trap the beast at the earliest.

Range officer Mahendra Giri Goswami said the marks of a leopard's paw had been found on the victim's neck.

Forest officials said a camera trap would be laid at Nepali farms to trap the beast.

Meanwhile, another leopard was sighted in Garhi Cantt and adjoining localities. A fortnight ago, a teenage girl was killed by a leopard on the FRI premises.

Dheerandra Sawan (retd), a resident of Garhi Cantt, said the leopard took away his pet dog and killed it. The carcass of the dog was found in a gorge behind his house. He said two days ago, the beast killed the cat of his neighbour.

Residents said leopard movement was noticed in the area earlier also, especially during night hours, but the department concerned had failed to take any action in this regard.

In yet another incident of man-animal conflict, one Salochna Devi (52), a resident of Beiding village in Srinagar was attacked by a leopard while she was coming from forests. The victim managed to escape from its clutches but got seriously injured.