Six persons, leopard injured in clash

JAIPUR: Six persons and a female leopard were injured in a clash at Kho Nagoriyan area in Jaipur outskirts on Monday.

The eyewitnesses said that the leopard mauled six persons after it strayed into a residential colony on Goner Road near Kho Nagoriyan at Noorpur area. The leopard also suffered serious injuries.

The injured were rushed to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital and Jaipuria hospital while the leopard was admitted to a hospital in Jaipur zoo in serious condition after it was allegedly attacked by residents of the area.

The leopard was spotted in a house where it was trying to take refuge after straying from Jhalana forest area. Following which a large number of people gathered around the house.

The injured include three women, two children and a 25-year-old man. Farid (25) who suffered injuries on his face, hands and legs and is undergoing treatment at the emergency unit of SMS hospital, said, "I was among the many people gathered outside the house where the leopard was holed up. Suddenly it attacked me as I was standing quite close to the house."

Later, the residents and the forest department officials overpowered the leopard, confined it to a room and tranquilised it after which it was rushed to Jaipur zoo for treatment.

Jaipur zoo director Akanksha Choudhary said, "There are injuries on its head and nose. He received stitches around his nose. The animal also sustanied injuries on its back. The doctors are giving antibiotics along with other treatment. It seems the leopard is 2 to 2.5 years old."

"We cannot say that the leopard is out of danger. The doctors will observe its condition for 24 hours," she added.