Leopard cubs beaten to death

JORHAT: Two leopard cubs were beaten to death in the Kalugaon Khoragorh area of Sivasagar district on Saturday.

Forest officials said the cubs appeared at a human habitation at Khoragarh village creating panic among the locals.

''Our team rushed to the spot to rescue the cubs, but they were killed before we reach the spot," said forest range officer (Sivasagar) Praneswar Das.

He added, ''On seeing the cubs, the villagers equipped with lathis and other weapons came out in large numbers and attacked the cubs. The cubs succumbed to their injuries after battling for their lives for about half-an-hour.''

He said a female leopard and her two cubs had taken shelter at Kalugaon and created panic among locals for the last one week. Villagers alleged that the mother of the cubs attacked some cattle in the area.