Hunters deputed to kill maneater leopard in Garhwal

GARHWAL: Uttrakhand forest department has deputed wild life hunters to shoot down a leopard, that has turned into a maneater and attacked villagers in the Gairsain region of Chamoli district, officials said on Sunday.

The leopard killed a five-year-old boy at Sem village in the district on April 7 and attacked a seven-year-old at Ujethia village on March 30.

A team of wildlife officers, that visited the area, has found sufficient evidences to declare the leopard as maneater, divisional forest officer Dheeraj Pandey said.

Pandey said taking into consideration the report submitted by the team, the forest department has deputed hunters to trace and kill the leopard.

The officer said that the department had also placed cages at various strategic places to trap the animal.