Jaipur, July 20 (IANS) Panic gripped Todaraisingh town in Rajasthan’s Tonk district after a leopard entered a liquor shop, attacked three people, and remained trapped inside the premises for nearly five hours before being rescued by the Forest Department.
According to officials, the leopard was first spotted around 8:45 a.m. on Monday in bushes near the town. Local ‘Van Mitra’ (Forest Friend) Rakesh rushed to the spot after receiving information from residents. As he approached the bushes, the leopard suddenly attacked him before running nearly 400 metres towards a nearby liquor shop.
The animal first attacked Fateh Lal Koli (40), who was sitting outside the shop, and then entered the premises where it attacked salesman Sanjay Gurjar (25). Despite sustaining injuries, Sanjay displayed remarkable presence of mind. As he escaped, he quickly pulled down the shop’s shutter, trapping the leopard inside and preventing it from roaming further into the crowded market.
“I somehow pushed the leopard away and ran towards the exit. While escaping, I pulled down the shutter. After that, I fainted,” Sanjay recalled. He suffered claw injuries to his hand, shoulder and nose and was later referred to Jaipur for treatment.
The injured were identified as Rakesh, Forest Friend, Fateh Lal Koli (40) and Sanjay Gurjar (25). Rakesh was discharged after first aid, while Sanjay and Fateh Lal were referred for advanced medical treatment.
Following the incident, the Forest Department called a specialised rescue team from Jhalana, Jaipur. The leopard remained confined inside the shop while police cordoned off the area and prevented people from approaching the site. A large crowd gathered as news of the incident spread.
At around 2 p.m., the rescue team successfully tranquilised the leopard with a single dart and safely captured it, bringing the tense five-hour operation to an end.
According to Anurag Maharshi, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Tonk, the rescued animal is a five-year-old male leopard.
“The leopard will undergo a medical examination before being released back into its natural habitat,” he said.
Maharshi also praised the salesman’s quick thinking.
Forest officials said the presence of leopards in the region reflects a healthy wildlife population but also increases the possibility of human-animal conflict. They appealed to residents not to approach or attempt to chase wild animals if spotted and instead inform the Forest Department immediately.
–IANS
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