Leopard which injured 4 villagers caught in Barmer

Forest department officials on Wednesday caught the leopard that injured four villagers in Chohtan block in Barmer.

Deputy conservator of forest Vikram Kesharee Pradhan said after they got information about the big cat, a rescue team was pressed into action to catch it.

Sarwan Singh Rathore, who headed the rescue team, said pug marks were spotted near the area where the locals were attacked. A cage was also placed near the attack spot. The team finally caught it on Wednesday, he said.

The leopard had attacked four villagers in Peelu village in Chauhtan tehsil on Monday. One of the victims, Hira (30) suffered a fracture in his hand and is being treated at the Sanchore hospital, while the other, identified as Meghiya Ram (30), suffered minor bruises on his face and has been discharged after treatment.

Rathore added that a leopard was spotted in Siwana around 15 days ago, but they could not catch it. He suspected that it could be the same panther, but could not confirm it. The rescue team tried to tranquilise it, but the big cat managed to escape, he said.