The forest department has captured a leopard linked to the death of a woman in Taruli village in Pauri district’s Khirsu block, 27 days after the 9 October attack. The animal was rescued from a cage on Thursday morning and taken to Nagdev Range, Pauri, for a health examination.
The department had declared the leopard a man-eater after the woman’s death. Orders had also been issued to shoot it as a last resort. Cages and trap cameras were placed in the area to locate and capture the animal.
Pauri Divisional Forest Officer Mahatim Yadav said teams had been working continuously in the area since the incident. The leopard was eventually found inside one of the cages, after which it was taken to Nagdev Range for medical checks.
Attack on woman triggered fear in nearby villages
Beena Devi, 51, lived in Bacheli village, which falls under Taruli gram sabha. On 9 October, she went to cut grass for her domestic cattle at about 5:00 in the evening. The leopard attacked her around 100 metres from her home.
Her body was found some time later in a mutilated condition. The death caused fear across the surrounding area and led residents to demand immediate action from the forest department.
The day after the incident, angry villagers blocked the Srinagar–Pauri–Kotdwar National Highway at Khandah. They demanded that the leopard be captured and that the department take steps to protect people living in the area.
Following the protest, the forest department declared the animal a man-eater. It installed trap cameras, solar cameras and cages in Bacheli, Taruli, Amdar and Laganu.
Residents changed their daily routines
For 25 days after the attack, cameras did not record any movement of the leopard. During an inspection on Monday, the forest team also found no leopard activity in the cameras and no footprints in the soil spread to track its movement.
The uncertainty affected daily life in the villages. Residents were forced to stay indoors after evening, while women travelled in groups to work in the fields and collect fodder for cattle.
Forest teams continued patrolling the area. Children were also taken to school in a departmental vehicle while the search operation remained in progress.
The capture now allows the department to conduct the leopard’s health examination at Nagdev Range. The supplied report does not state what further action will follow the examination.
Conclusion
The forest department has captured the leopard associated with Beena Devi’s death after 27 days of search operations. The animal is now at Nagdev Range, Pauri, where its health is being examined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where was the leopard captured?
The leopard was captured in a cage in the area around Taruli village and nearby locations in Pauri district’s Khirsu block.
Q. When did the attack take place?
The attack took place on 9 October, when Beena Devi went to cut grass near her home.
Q. Where has the leopard been taken?
The forest department took it to Nagdev Range, Pauri, for a health examination.
Q. Why had the leopard been declared a man-eater?
The department declared it a man-eater after the death of Beena Devi in the attack.
Q. What measures did the forest department use?
The department installed cages, trap cameras and solar cameras, while teams also patrolled the area.
Q. What did villagers do after the woman’s death?
Villagers blocked the Srinagar–Pauri–Kotdwar National Highway at Khandah the following day and demanded the leopard’s capture and greater protection for residents.
