Leopard mauls two-year-old to death in Dhar

Indore: A leopard killed a two-year-old boy in Kundakheda village of Mandu town in Dhar district late Saturday night. The incident took place at around 1.30am when the boy and his family were sleeping outside their house.
Chief conservator of forest, Indore, Purshottam Dhiman said that the leopard had come from the nearby jungle and caught hold of the boy.The villagers woke up on hearing the commotion and chased away the wild cat. The injured boy was rushed for treatment where doctors declared him dead.
Forest officials rushed to the village, but could not spot the leopard. "It seems to have escaped into the jungle, but we are not taking any chances. If we find the leopard, we will shift it elsewhere to ensure safety of the villagers," Dhiman said. He said that three cages had been kept in the village and a team had been deployed to keep tabs on the movement of wild animals.
The villagers are living in fear after the incident and have locked themselves inside their houses. This is not the first time a leopard has entered the village. The villagers had earlier been advised not to sleep in the open. However, the villagers said that with the temperature rising they preferred to sleep in the open.
"The villagers have been advised to stay alert. A compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh has been given to the boy's family. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh. We'll give the rest of the amount as soon as we receive the CM's orders," Dhiman said.