Rajasthan: Panther beaten to death by villagers in Bharatpur; probe underway

A female panther was allegedly beaten to death by residents of a Rajasthan village after it entered a house, prompting a post-mortem examination and potential legal action.

A female panther was allegedly beaten to death by residents of the Sitapura village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening under the Weir police station area after the animal entered a house, according to officials.

After receiving information, teams from the forest department and local police reached the spot.

Deputy Conservator of Forest Chetan Kumar said that the rescue team was attempting to safely capture the animal while police personnel were trying to keep villagers away from the site.

However, several villagers gathered at the spot and attacked the panther when it attempted to come out of the house, resulting in its death, he said.

Kumar said the villagers then tried to cremate the carcass, but the forest team intervened and retrieved the partially burnt body.

The carcass was later taken to Bharatpur for a post-mortem examination, he said, adding that the animal was a female panther.

Cases will be registered under the Wildlife Protection Act and other relevant legal provisions against those involved in the killing and attempted burning of the carcass, Kumar said.