Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh), Feb.21 (ANI): In a gruesome incident of violence against wild animals, villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district killed a leopard after it allegedly strayed into their locality on Saturday (Feb.21).

Forest officials of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary found the carcass of the leopard near a cowshed in Samri Ghatali village.

As per officials, while all the organs of the animal were intact, it had a severely damaged upper neck bone, and a ruptured right rib.

An official complaint has been filed with the police against villagers for killing the two-and-a-half-year-old animal.

“The leopard strayed into the village and entered a cowshed. The villagers beat the animal to death. A post-mortem report on the animal testifies multiple injuries. We have filed an FIR (First Information Report) against three villagers,” said R. K. Singh, Divisional Forest Officer of Bahraich district.

The leopard was later cremated by the officials. The depletion of leopards’ habitat has forced them to stray into human settlements, attacking people and cattle, and often getting killed in return.

Human settlement and steady encroachment into forest areas have also brought humans and the wild cats into conflict. (ANI)