Leopard injures three people in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Dec 26 (ANI): A leopard injured three villagers, including two minors in Bhawaria village of Uttar Pradesh after they saw it roaming in nearby fields, and tried to scare it away.

"The leopard has injured three people so far. It came from the west and is now hiding in the eastern direction," Sri Ram, one of the injured villagers, said.

The locals chased the leopard to a field and set it on fire to smoke out the animal. However, the leopard came out of the burning field and attacked the gathered people, and managed to escape to nearby woods.

According to forest officials and police personnel, the leopard came from a nearby forest reserve, and the hunting team is now scouting the area to capture the animal.

"We have surrounded the leopard. The villagers have been removed from here. We are keeping a watch on the animal so that it does not hurt any one," Alok Pandey, a Forest Officer, said.

Scared villagers armed with sticks and other weapons have been patrolling the outskirts of the area where the leopard was last seen. (ANI)