This is the shocking moment a wild leopard injured three residents while rampaging through a village in India.

The predator sparked panic when it tore through a neighbourhood and chased dozens of residents in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, on February 24.

Locals had tried to fend the beast off by throwing stones at it, but the leopard pounced on at least three people and injured them.

Dramatic footage shows how the wild cat rushed at fleeing residents, knocking over and pinning a man who miraculously managed to fight it off using his fists.

The leopard retreated into the nearby forest as the injured were taken to a hospital.

Forest department officials were able to corner and tranquilise the leopard six hours later.

A resident named Ajay said: 'The leopard chased at least 40 people after wandering into the area. Everyone was panicking and running for their lives.'

The incident is the latest in a string of recent leopard encounters in India.

On January 30, a wild leopard sparked panic when it entered a family's bedroom before escaping into a nearby forest in Bihar.

While on February 11, another leopard ventured into a village in Uttarakhand and mauled three forest rangers trying to capture it.

On February 22, a leopard charged at two men while wandering through the Udaipur District of Rajasthan state.

The development of homes in and around forests has lead to an increase in the number of leopard sightings in recent years.