Leopard escapes from cage, attacks 2

Nanjangud (mysuru dist), Dec 21: Saturday's incident involving the escape of a leopard, endangering several people, brings to fore the Forest department's laxity and recklessness.

The department had allegedly trapped the leopard in a rusted cage, which, notwithstanding the struggling feline gave way, resulting in the escape of the animal but not before it attacked two persons at Konanur village in Nanjangud on Saturday.

According to the villagers, the leopard had killed a calf belonging to Basumarishetty around four days ago and had devoured a goat on Friday. Following this, the Forest department had placed a cage at Basumarishetty's farm and was successful in trapping the leopard. As soon as the news spread, large crowds gathered at the spot.

Out of fear, the leopard made attempts to get out of the cage. In the melee, the cage, which was rusted and of poor quality gave way and the leopard pounced on the group of people, injuring two persons, Prakash and Mahadevaswamy, and then escaped. Mahadevaswamy, who suffered serious injuries was shifted to K R Hospital in Mysuru for further treatment.

The villagers sought compensation for the injured, and demanded that a stronger cage be placed to trap the leopard. Nanjangud Deputy Range Forest Officer Nitin Kumar and others visited the spot, removed the broken cage and placed a new one. The absence of RFO Siddaraju at the spot, angered the villagers.