BH-LEOPARD

Leopard beaten to death by villagers in Bihar
    Muzaffarpur, Apr 15 (PTI) A leopard was beaten to
death by local people on Monday morning after it attacked and
injured four persons in Teghwara village of Bihar's
Muzaffarpur district, an official said.
    The injured have been have been sent to a primary
health centre for first-aid, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
(East) Kundan Kumar said.
    Kumar, however, could not give details about the
nature of their injuries.
    "Villagers came out in large numbers after four people
were attacked by the leopard. They gheraoed the animal, and
hurled stones at it, before beating it to death," he added.
    Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) D K
Shukla said the animal might have strayed into the village
from nearby Valmikinagar sanctuary, along the Gandak river,
or from Nepal.
    "We got information around 8:30 am that a leopard has
been sighted in Teghwara village. By the time our forest
department team reached the village, it was dead," he said.
    The team has taken the leopard's body into custody and
sent it to a veterinary hospital in the district for post-
mortem, the PCCF said.
    "As the leopard belongs to Schedule-I category of
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, police have lodged an FIR
against unnamed persons in connection with the incident," he
said, adding that officials are trying to ascertain why the
animal strayed into the village. PTI AR
RMS RMS