Tonk: Panic gripped Todaraisingh town in Rajasthan‘s Tonk district after a leopard entered a liquor shop on Sunday morning and attacked three people before being trapped inside the premises. Forest officials later rescued the animal after a nearly five-hour operation, bringing the tense situation under control.
The incident drew a large crowd to the area as residents gathered after learning that a leopard had entered the town. Three people sustained injuries in the attacks, with two requiring further medical treatment.
Leopard first spotted in bushes
According to forest officials, the incident began at around 8.45 am when local residents informed Van Mitra (forest volunteer) Rakesh that a leopard had been spotted hiding in bushes in Todaraisingh.
Rakesh went to inspect the area following the information. As he approached the bushes, the leopard suddenly attacked him before fleeing from the spot.
After the initial attack, the animal moved nearly 400 metres towards a nearby liquor shop, creating panic among residents.
Two more attacked at liquor shop
The leopard first attacked Fateh Lal Koli (40), who was sitting outside the liquor shop. The animal reportedly pounced on him, knocking him to the ground before rushing inside the shop.
Once inside, the leopard attacked Sanjay Gurjar (25), the salesman working at the outlet.
Despite the sudden attack, Sanjay managed to escape and displayed remarkable presence of mind by shutting the shop’s entrance, effectively trapping the leopard inside the building and preventing it from attacking more people.
The animal later moved into a corner of the shop, where it remained until forest officials arrived.
Five-hour rescue operation
Following the incident, forest officials were alerted, and a specialised rescue team from Jaipur reached Todaraisingh at around 2 pm.
After assessing the situation, the team launched a rescue operation to safely capture the leopard without causing harm to the animal or the public.
The rescue operation lasted for nearly five hours, after which the leopard was successfully captured and removed from the liquor shop.
Forest officials have not yet disclosed where the leopard will be relocated following its rescue.
Injured shifted to hospital
All three injured persons were immediately taken to hospital by local residents.
Forest volunteer Rakesh was treated for his injuries and discharged after receiving first aid.
However, Sanjay Gurjar and Fateh Lal Koli, who sustained more serious injuries during the attacks, were referred to another hospital for specialised treatment.
Officials said their condition is being monitored.
Large crowd gathers
The unusual incident attracted a large number of curious onlookers after news spread that a leopard had entered the town and taken shelter inside a liquor shop.
Police and forest personnel worked together to manage the crowd and secure the area while the rescue operation was in progress.
Authorities have urged residents living near forested areas to immediately report wildlife sightings to the Forest Department and avoid attempting to approach or corner wild animals, as such actions can increase the risk of attacks.
Further details regarding how the leopard entered the town and the circumstances leading to the incident are awaited.