Leopard on the prowl killed

LUCKNOW: A leopard that had killed five persons and mauled many since December last, was beaten to death by angry villagers in Bilahar village in Lakhimpur Kheri district, forest department sources said on Friday.

Villagers cordoned off the orchard in North Kheri forest division where the animal was hiding from all sides, forcing the big cat to come out yesterday, they said.

After it came out they chased and beat it to death with lathis and sharp-edged weapons, they added.

On the prowl since December last, the beast had killed five persons, including two children.