This is an archive article published on October 12, 2024
Amid panic over big cat attacks, leopard hacked to death in Udaipur village
Devaram is currently undergoing treatment at Udaipur’s Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital and his condition is said to be stable, police said.
Written by Parul Kulshrestha
Jaipur | Updated: October 12, 2024 08:11 AM IST
2 min read
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This comes at a time when rising leopard attacks near Gogunda in Udaipur’s forests have caused a panic among residents. Seven people have been killed in such attacks since September 10, prompting the forest authorities to issue shoot-at-sight orders.
A leopard was hacked to death in Udaipur’s Kamol village after it attacked a man – a development that comes at a time when growing big cat attacks have caused a panic in the area.
According to the police, a 55-year-old farmer identified as Devaram Gameti was severely wounded after a leopard entered his house and went into his cowshed.
“The leopard attacked the farmer who reached the enclosure after hearing his cows’ cries. It clenched both his hands in its jaws and attacked him several times with its claws. Hearing Devaram’s cries, other village residents gathered there and killed the leopard with an axe,” Saira police station SHO Praveen Jugtawat said, adding that residents feared that the leopard was a man-eater.
Devaram is currently undergoing treatment at Udaipur’s Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital and his condition is said to be stable, police said.
This comes at a time when rising leopard attacks near Gogunda in Udaipur’s forests have caused a panic among residents. Seven people have been killed in such attacks since September 10, prompting the forest authorities to issue shoot-at-sight orders.
Saira is 25 kms away from Gogunda.
Meanwhile, sources from the forest department said that although investigation is ongoing, this leopard is unlikely to be the same as the one responsible for the attacks at Gogunda.
“Usually, leopards don’t travel this far and hence it may not be the same leopard,” one official said on the condition of anonymity. “We’re working every day to catch the man-eater.”
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In the case of the other leopard, as anger grew among locals, forest officials had put up cages at six different places. Two cages were transported from Rajsamand district and two were newly built in the city to increase the chances of catching the leopard. Along with this, six cameras had been installed to keep an eye on the movement of the big cat.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
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