Killer leopard caught in Alwar: forest officials

AFTER DEPLOYING over 150 forest and police personnel in a massive operation, Rajasthan authorities on Tuesday claimed that the hunt for the killer leopard had culminated with the ‘man-eater’ behind the attack being caught.

Four villagers had died in leopard attacks in Alwar district, where the Sariska Tiger Reserve is located, within a fortnight in February.

“The prime suspect behind human killings was caught in a trap cage today (Tuesday) morning near Sant ka Khola in Jaitpur village,” said Chief Conservator of Forests, R S Shekhawat, Field Director of Sariska Tiger Project. It was Silibavdi Gram Panchayat — which includes Jaitpur village — where a leopard had killed two persons on February 12.

Shekhawat said that what apparently confirmed that the one caught on Tuesday was the “killer”were“similarpug-marks”, worn-out teeth and the leopard’s old age. He added they had earlier caught three leopards, but they were not behind the attacks. The attacks, mostly on cattle, had continued even after these felines had been caught, forest officials claimed.

“Although no pug marks could be traced from the first three deaths, the fourth attack on Ram Kunvar Meena, 55, on February 12 in mustard fields revealed very clear pug marks,” said Deputy Conservator of Forest, Balaji Kari.