Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, Jan 13 (IANS) Another leopard fell prey to human fury as angry villagers Thursday hammered it to death with wooden sticks and cricket bats on the outskirts of this Orissa capital after it mauled two people. A probe has been ordered, an official said.The leopard, which reportedly strayed into the area near Gandarpur village from the Chandaka forest, was spotted by the residents early morning. Hundreds of villagers chased the animal and beat it to death.

“The city divisional forest officer at Bhubaneswar has been asked by the government to conduct an inquiry and submit a report at the earliest,” a senior state wildlife official told IANS.

The residents said they saw the animal and informed the local wildlife officials. But before the officials reached the spot, the animal was beaten to death.

Forest officer Akshaya Patnaik said the leopard’s body has been recovered from the site and sent for autopsy.

Several incidents of leopards becoming victims of human rage in the country have come to light in the last few days.

A leopard was lynched by a mob Wednesday in Faridabad, some 30 km from the national capital. The incident reportedly took place in front of the deputy commissioner, police and other forest officials.

In Maharashtra, a leopard was shot dead by a police officer Sunday at Karad near Pune after it strayed into a residential area and attacked six people.