A leopard unexpectedly lunged at a village youth retrieving a key from a kiln. Sensing imminent danger, the youth bravely faced the predator head-on. An intense and prolonged struggle ensued between the two, testing courage and endurance.

The incident took place in Baburi village of Dhaurahra in Lakhimpur Kheri, in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh, on June 24.

Visuals show that Mihilal, a young man, was captured grappling with a leopard and holding it off. Many villagers threw bricks and stones at the animal, while no forest officials or workers appeared to assist during the incident.

Speaking to Newslions, Saureesh Sahay, Divisional Forest Officer, Lakhimpur Kheri Forest Department, Uttar Pradesh, stated that a leopard suddenly attacked a young man working at a brick kiln. The man bravely fought back against the predator. Witnessing the struggle, numerous villagers gathered and hurled bricks and stones at the leopard, forcing it to flee. Although injured, the young man survived, and the leopard also sustained wounds.

When the forest ranger and officers arrived at the scene following reports of the incident, the wounded leopard turned aggressive and attacked them. Five individuals, including the ranger and forest officials, suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. Later, the forest department team successfully tranquillised and captured the leopard.

The leopard had been hiding inside the chimney of Medai Lal Verma’s kiln when it attacked Mihilal, a 35-year-old resident of Girdhari Purwa. Villagers working nearby rushed to help, throwing stones and bricks, which forced the animal to retreat into a banana field. The locals quickly informed Regional Forest Officer Nripendra Chaturvedi.

As the forest team approached the banana field equipped with nets, the leopard launched an attack on them. Forest Inspector Rajesh Kumar Dixit, Ranger Nripendra Chaturvedi, PRV Constable Ram Sajeevan, and villager Iqbal Khan sustained injuries. The injured were initially taken to CHC Dhaurahra, where Mihilal, Iqbal Khan, and Rajesh Dixit were referred to Lakhimpur for further treatment. Ranger Nripendra Chaturvedi and the constable, who suffered minor injuries, were discharged after medical care.

Following the incident, police personnel, including Inspector Suresh Kumar Mishra and CO Shamsher Bahadur Singh arrived at the scene. Thousands of villagers gathered near the field. After some time, forest officials managed to tranquilize and capture the leopard.

According to Regional Forest Officer Nripendra Chaturvedi, four to five people, including a forest officer, ranger, and local youth, were injured during the leopard attack. The leopard has since been safely captured.