Violent leopard shot dead

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD, JAN. 4. A 10-year-old leopard that strayed into the town early morning today was shot dead by the police as the animal became violent due to the chasing of it by large number of local people.

The animal might have either come from Malampuzha or Walayar forests. The leopard was first spotted at Kalmandapam area in the Coimbatore Road when it was hiding in a bush in a housing colony.

Police sought the help of Forest authorities to catch the animal as it posed danger to the local residents. But the Forest authorities expressed their helplessness either to get a cage or trained people to trap the animal. They also had no arrangement for getting the animal shot with tranquilizers.

When the crowd started attacking the animal, it retorted attacking three people, including a policeman. The police constable, Mari Muthu, and the two others Sharavana and Sharavan, were injured. They were admitted to the District Hospital here.

The Additional Superintendent of Police, Mr. Vikraman, who was supervising the operation said that the police had no other way but to shoot the animal as the crowd started attacking the animal. The animal which got scared started attacking the crowd.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Mr. Sugathan, who was present on the spot gave permission to shoot the animal as it posed danger to the public.

Police said that if the crowd had not created problem, the police would have somehow trapped the animal. After it was shot, some among the public started stabbing and punching the animal with some crude weapons.

The animal was, later, removed to the South Police Station and handed over to the Forest authorities.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Rs. 300 cr. WB loan for rural project
Next     : Gear up, Swraj Paul tells industry