Nuapada: A four-year-old boy was allegedly mauled to death by a leopard in a forest near Haladi village of Nuapada. The animal had earlier dragged the boy while he was sleeping beside mother late last night, sources said.
According to reports, the family members of Hiralal Pandey were sleeping in the verandah due to excess heat and humid conditions yesterday. The family was completely unaware that their son was lifted by the animal.
It was only today morning that they found the minor boy missing and began to search for him. Later, they found the mutilated dead body from nearby forest after following blood trails in the area.
Local residents suspect that the leopard must have lifted the 4-year-old in sleep and killed him in the nearby forest. It is for the second time that such an incident has been reported in the village as earlier panther had killed a person in similar fashion 10 years back.
Local police and forest personnel reached the spot and are examining the case.