Woman locks leopard in house

PANAJI: A woman locked a leopard in her house in Khola village in Canacona taluk, 80 kms from here, when the wild animal attacked her, who was later captured by the forest department officials.

The leopard, which had strayed into Rangawati Putu Velip's house yesterday, attacked her. "The lady was shocked to see the wild animal in her house, where she was staying alone, locked it in the house and raised an alarm," a forest department official said.

The villagers immediately informed the forest department officials of nearby Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, who later laid a trap to nab the leopard.

45-year-old Rangawati Putu Velip, who has almost lost her right eye, has been admitted to the district hospital in Margao town after she bravely fought back the leopard which attacked her.

State forest minister Philip Nery Rodrigues said that the Department will compensate the lady as per the Forest Act, which will look after her medical expenses.