Controversy Erupts Over Leopard's Death in Pilibhit

The death of a female leopard in Pilibhit sparked controversy after a social media video revealed forest officials' handling of the situation. A formal inquiry has been launched to investigate the incident, where the leopard was struck by a vehicle and later killed during a rescue attempt.

A controversy has erupted following the death of a female leopard in Pilibhit after a video surfaced on social media, capturing forest officials' controversial handling of the situation. This prompted the Divisional Forest and Wildlife Division to order a formal inquiry on Tuesday.

Divisional Director Bharat Kumar stated that a three-member panel was established to delve into the circumstances of the incident. Leading the investigation is Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Anjani Kumar Srivastava, with Range Forest Officer Vinit Prakash Srivastava and Deputy Range Officer Sher Singh as members.

The inquiry was initiated after a two-year-old leopard was hit by a pickup truck and injured. Although forest officials arrived for a rescue operation, the leopard attacked, prompting a worker to use an axe for defense, resulting in the animal's death. A report on the incident is awaited to guide further actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)