Leopard suspected of killing 7-year-old girl, captured in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri

In Sidhauna village near Dudhwa National Park, a leopard suspected of killing seven-year-old Simran was captured after a three-day operation. Officials used bait, night-vision, and drones to trap the animal, which is now under veterinary examination before authorities decide its release

Lakhimpur Kheri: Days after a seven-year-old girl was killed in a leopard attack here, the forest department has captured the big cat suspected of being involved in the attack, officials said on Sunday.

The leopard was trapped in a cage in Sinhauna village of the Singahi area on Saturday night.

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On March 25, Simran (7) was killed in a leopard attack in Sidhauna village in the Dudhwa National Park. She was sitting with her family inside their farmhouse in the village when the leopard picked up the girl in its jaws and fled towards nearby fields The girl’s death had triggered massive protests by her family and locals, who demanded the immediate capture of the animal and compensation for the aggrieved family.

The agitation ended on Thursday after Kirti Chaudhary, Deputy Director of the Dudhwa buffer zone, visited the spot and assured the locals swift action.

Manoj Tiwari, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Nighasan forest sub-division, told PTI that the capture followed a three-day intensive combing operation.

“The big cat was lured into a cage using bait after being monitored through night-vision and drone cameras,” Tiwari said.

The leopard has been taken for a medical examination by Dudhwa veterinary experts. “The further course of action regarding its release will be decided as per instructions from competent authorities,” the SDO added.