Pilibhit : When a leopard clamped its jaws around his five-year-old niece and began dragging her towards a field, farmer Sukhvinder Singh grabbed a stick and chased the animal for nearly 100 metres before beating it into releasing the child in Kheri district.
“The attack took place around 6.30pm on Monday in Majhra Purva village, about 200 metres from the core forest of the North Kheri forest division. He repeatedly struck the leopard with the stick until it released the girl and disappeared into the vegetation. Stay updated with the latest Bareilly news.
The girl’s house, located away from the main habitation and surrounded by sugarcane and banana fields, was vulnerable to visits by wild animals,” forest range officer Bhupendra Singh said. She suffered lacerations and puncture wounds but was out of immediate danger, a doctor said. “Pugmarks found near the spot confirmed that the girl had been attacked by a leopard,” Singh said.
Manpreet Kaur was playing near the courtyard when the leopard sprang out of hiding, seized her by the neck and began dragging her towards the nearby fields. Hearing her screams, her uncle Sukhvinder picked up a wooden staff and ran after the animal. Manpreet was rushed to Ramia Behar Community Health Centre and later referred to the district hospital. The forest department has installed two cages with live bait and placed two camera traps near the house. Forest teams have also been deployed to track the leopard and protect the family. Download the TOI App.