In a gruesome incident that happened on Sunday, a 62-year-old farmer from Krishnagiri district stabbed to death a leopard that ventured into his farm to reportedly prey on the cattle.
Ramamurthi, a farmer belonging to Melkollai village, near a forest, found himself facing a leopard that had entered his farm in search of food.
According to a report in the Times of India, Ramamurthi had let his cattle lose, graze on his lands. Shortly thereafter, the farmer heard the panicked calls of his cattle and ran into the farm to see his cow being dragged away by the leopard.
The cattle farmer picked up the machete that is used to cut fodder for his cattle and struck the leopard, reportedly on it’s neck, legs and back, killing it on the spot.
The farmer, who also sustained injuries in the duel, is currently admitted to the government hospital in Krishnagiri for treatment.
The leopard’s carcass has reportedly been sent for autopsy. Forest officials in the area are reportedly investigating the matter.
According to the ToI report, Ramamurthi has claimed that he killed the leopard in self defence.
The incident comes barely a few days after a leopard mauled a 4-year-old boy to death in Valparai near Malakkappara in Kerala.
Saidullah, the son of estate workers, was dragged from his house and mauled to death a little after 6 pm on Thursday. The boy was reportedly given a bath and made to stand near the kitchen when the leopard dragged him out of the house after his mother had gone inside.
Horrified, his mother immediately alerted the local residents. However, it was too late.
The leopard was later captured by the forest department officials.