Frenzied locals attacked a leopard that injured five people during a rampage through villages in India today.

The big cat sparked panic when emerged from nearby woods and entered a village in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir this morning.

Wildlife officials said the beast injured two residents before they tried to tackle it but it injured three of their own staff.

Shocking video shows the leopard in a courtyard, surrounded by locals and forest officials attempting to subdue the animal with large sticks.

Eventually, the exhausted leopard collapsed on the ground while it was being thrashed by the mob.

Amidst the chaos, a man can be heard shouting 'don't kill'. Aman in a maroon hoodie is seen pinned down by the leopard near a tin shed before narrowly escaping.

The video also shows the forest worker managing to free his hand from the leopard's jaws by grabbing the animal's head and pinning it to the ground.

The intense scene continues as a few locals kick the leopard, while two forest officials are shown holding their arms in pain after being bitten.

One of the workers is carried in the arms of others, while another is supported by locals as they transport him to receive medical attention.

As the tension mounts, a man reassures the crowd by shouting 'he is safe'.

According to witnesses, the leopard was seen roaming the neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, causing fear among the locals and prompting wards to force children to remain indoors.

The locals immediately informed the wildlife department officials after spotting the leopard moving through the lanes and bylanes.

When the wildlife department officers were setting up a trap to capture the leopard, witnesses claimed that the animal attacked them before locals intervened to save their lives.

The injured individuals, including a policeman, were taken to the district hospital in Ganderbal for medical treatment.

Officials said the same leopard had previously injured a woman.

The wildlife department, police, and forest protection force rescue teams relocated away from the residential area.

Residents thanked the authorities involved in capturing the big cat.

The leopard population in India has grown from 12,852 in 2018, to 13,874 in 2022, according to the 'Status of Leopards in India 2022' report, released by the Union Environment Ministry on February 29.

The development of homes in and around forests has led to an increase in conflicts with humans.