Eight hospitalised, more than 10 injured
HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Dec 26: More than 10 people have been injured, out of which eight have been hospitalised, by a leopard which is on a rampage inside the Rain Forest Research Institute campus at Sotai and the villages in the vicinity from 10 am on Monday.
Jorhat forest protection ranger Arun Kalita said that out of the eight people who have been hospitalised, three are forest personnel, two staff of the RFRI and three residents of the campus excluding two children and a lady.
The three forest personnel have been identified as deputy ranger Sunil Dutta, forester Prabodh Saikia and forest guard Jitumoni Saikia, the last two received severe injuries.
Kalita said that when he reached the spot along with other forest personnel, the leopard attacked and injured the three forest personnel inside the campus.
“Although the leopard got its talons into the depot ranger, he could not sink in his teeth as I shoved my rifle into his mouth and then when he turned to me, the deputy ranger saved my life by doing the same with his rifles. Shoot orders have been issued,” Kalita said.
Kalita further said that the leopard had also attacked three or four villagers of Parbatiya village adjoining the wall of RFRI campus when these villagers came out to watch.
The leopard had also entered a jeep of the Forest department from the open back and attempts were made to shoot it but it escaped.
Another Forest official said that it was impossible to set up a trap as the leopard was very vicious and attacked the people on sight.
Jorhat forest range officer Iqbal Ahmed said that a veterinary tranquilising team had been summoned from Tinsukia and they are attempting to tranquilise it.
