After a brief hiatus, a leopard unleashed terror in the Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary of Nuapada district by dragging away a child in Katingpani village on Monday.
As per reports, an 8-year-old boy of Godhaspada (Katingpani) was playing near his house. Local residents said, a leopard stormed into the village and dragged the boy away before they could do anything to save the child.
The incident triggered tension and fear among local residents.
Sources said, on being informed, the Forest Department officials reached the village. On searching the area, the body of the victim was recovered from the nearby forest.
No comments have been received from the forest officials.
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In the past, villages in the wildlife sanctuary have lost several heads of cattle, and a woman was also killed in leopard attacks. On April 21, 2023, a big cat killed a calf near Brahmani village under the Amanara Forest section.
On April 4, a leopard killed a calf at Powertola under the Sadar range of Nuapada. On March 20, 2023, an elderly woman, identified as Sanmati Barik (65) of Jalamadhei village under Sunabeda sanctuary was killed while she was out collecting firewood.