A tragic human-wildlife conflict unfolded in the Balh subdivision of Mandi district on Wednesday, resulting in the death of a villager and five injuries before an elderly male leopard was chased down and killed by a panicked mob. The incident, a rare occurrence for the area, began in the early hours when the displaced big cat entered human settlements.
Panic Spreads Across Three Villages
The leopard was first sighted around 6 am in Chandyal village, located barely 10 kilometers from Mandi town. The animal immediately attacked members of a family, their screams triggering widespread fear. Locals armed with sticks and rods gathered quickly, attempting to drive the predator away.
Fleeing the crowd, the leopard scampered to the nearby Bhadyal village. There, it attacked four more individuals who happened to be in its path. As news spread, the crowd pursuing the animal swelled significantly, chasing it through narrow village lanes and agricultural fields.
A Fatal Cornering in Malwana
Cornered and desperate, the leopard entered Malwana village, where it launched its final and fatal attack. The victim was Balbir Singh, a 40-year-old resident of Bhiuli village near Mandi, who was visiting his brother-in-law. Eyewitness Pinku Ram of Malwana described the horrifying moment: "The leopard attacked Balbir as soon as he stepped out of the house. We came out on hearing his screams and saw Balbir struggling on the ground as the leopard sank its teeth into him. The leopard left only after Balbir stopped moving." Balbir Singh was killed on the spot.
The Leopard's Fate and Official Response
Enraged and fearful, the large crowd then surrounded the leopard and began battering it with sticks and rods. The animal was severely wounded. In a struggle to escape, it slipped off a terrace and fell onto a stack of iron rods. Although a rescue team from the forest department arrived promptly, the leopard could not be saved.
Mandi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vasu Doegar provided context, stating the leopard was approximately 12 years old, considered elderly for a species with an average lifespan of 12-15 years. "It seems a young leopard took over its territory, and it strayed into the village, looking for easy prey like a dog or cattle," the DFO explained. He emphasized that leopard sightings in this area are rare, and trap cages are usually set upon sightings. "Today's incident was the first of its kind here," he added.
The five injured villagers—Champa Devi, Rekha Devi, Sahib Singh, Deenanath, and Janit—were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nerchowk for treatment. Following standard procedure, a postmortem of the leopard carcass was conducted in the presence of a committee on Wednesday afternoon. The examination confirmed the leopard succumbed to injuries inflicted during the chase. After the procedure, the carcass was incinerated.
