18‑year‑old fights leopard bare‑handed, kills it with stones in Himachal Pradesh

An 18‑year‑old Industrial Training Institute (ITI) student from Sarli village in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district fought a dramatic, life‑threatening battle with a leopard on Monday morning and killed the animal using his bare hands and stones, multiple news outlets reported.

The student, identified as Pravesh Sharma , was walking through fields near his home in the Arki area to fetch milk around 7 am when a young female leopard lurking in the bushes suddenly attacked him just a few meters from his house, according to eyewitnesses and officials.

Despite facing a powerful predator without any weapon, Sharma maintained his presence of mind and grappled with the leopard for nearly ten to twelve minutes . He initially tried to prevent the animal from reaching his neck by grabbing it by the jaws, shouted for help and, using nearby stones, repeatedly struck its neck and head until the leopard succumbed.

Sharma sustained multiple scratches and injuries on his hands, shoulders, legs, arms and face during the prolonged struggle, but none were reported as life‑threatening. He was taken to the Arki hospital , treated and discharged later the same day. Forest officials visited him at the facility and presented him with Rs 5,000 in immediate relief and in recognition of his bravery .

Relatives and residents said the area had experienced sightings of the same leopard since March 6, and villagers had previously alerted the Forest Department and requested the installation of trap cages to capture the animal, but no action was taken before Monday’s attack. Locals also claimed the leopard had tried to attack a scooter rider at about 7:30 am on the same day, who escaped by abandoning his vehicle.

Forest officer Rajkumar Sharma said shrinking forests and human intrusion are driving leopards into settlements. Rising attacks, including Mandi deaths, highlight growing human–wildlife conflicts in Himachal Pradesh.