NUAPADA : The leopard, which had killed a four-year-old boy in Haldi village under Dumerpani gram panchayat in Nuapada block on May 26, was trapped by forest officials on Saturday. DFO (Territorial) of Khariar Gadadhar Patra said they had placed a cage with a goat inside it to trap the animal.
On Sunday last, the leopard had attacked an elderly woman and her grand-daughter of the village. Danabai Pandey (60) and her grand-daughter Chandni (10) were sleeping in a room which was not locked from inside. At around 1 am, the animal tried to drag the child. On seeing the leopard, Danabai raised an alarm. Her family members woke up and rushed out with lathis. In the commotion, the leopard escaped.
On May 26 night, the leopard had picked up four-year-old Chhagan and mauled him to death. Chhagan was the son of Ketki Pandey and Hiralal Pandey. Villagers recovered the head of the boy from the forest nearby and it is believed that the animal ate the torso. The incident took place when the boy’s family members were sleeping outside their house.
Earlier, the villagers had spotted the leopard at the Shiva temple atop the hillock and since then, efforts were underway by the Forest department officials to trap the animal.