Leopard Shot Dead by Forest Dept Hunters in Uttarakhand's Pauri

An eight-year-old leopard suspected of carrying out a deadly attack in Bamthi village of Pauri was shot dead by forest department hunters late Thursday, bringing temporary relief to villagers who had spent nearly two weeks living under fear and panic after repeated leopard sightings and attacks.

The leopard was killed during a special operation launched by the Garhwal Forest Division following the brutal death of 65-year-old Sita Devi , who was attacked while cutting grass near forest land on April 23. Villagers said the animal dragged her into nearby bushes, where her mutilated body was later discovered. The incident triggered anger among residents, who accused authorities of not responding quickly despite repeated warnings about leopard movement in the area.

After the attack, fear spread rapidly across Bamthi and neighbouring villages. Many residents stopped visiting agricultural fields after sunset, while some local schools reportedly remained shut temporarily as a precautionary measure.

Forest officials intensified surveillance by deploying continuous patrols , trap cameras, solar-powered cameras and multiple cages to monitor leopard movement. Officials also confirmed that a female leopard had earlier been trapped during the operation, raising concerns that more than one leopard was roaming nearby.

Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Ayesha Bisht said hunters were initially prepared to tranquilise the leopard , but shooting remained the last option during the operation. The leopard’s body was later taken to the Nagdev Range office for post-mortem examination to determine whether it was the confirmed man-eater linked to the recent attack.

Despite the successful operation, forest teams continue monitoring the region and have urged villagers to remain vigilant while entering forested areas or isolated fields.