Dibrugarh: A leopard was killed by angry residents of Duliajan in Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Wednesday after it allegedly attacked a man.
According to reports, the incident occurred in the Tipling Gutibari locality of Duliajan on Wednesday afternoon when the leopard attacked a resident identified as Rubul Dutta.
“Rubul Dutta sustained injuries in the attack and was immediately rushed to the Oil India Hospital in Duliajan. He is currently undergoing treatment,” said a source.
Following the attack on Dutta, panic spread across the locality and an agitated section of residents retaliated and killed the leopard.
For months, several areas of Duliajan, including Madhuting Borkola and Tipling, have reportedly witnessed frequent leopard movement, particularly after dusk.
“We have addressed the incident to the forest department but they failed to take any step to trap the animal. We had no other option to save ourselves. The agitated residents killed the leopard,” said a local resident.
“The forest department should take cognisance under the Wildlife Act against the people who killed the animal. The rate of conviction is low in wildlife crimes. We urge the department to act swiftly to arrest the people involved in such crimes,” said Devojit Moran, an environmentalist.
Man-leopard conflict has been rising in village areas as leopards have been venturing into villages in search of food. Due to the shrinking of forest cover, the animals have been moving into village areas, resulting in conflict.
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