Elderly farmer kills leopard to save self, cows

According to the Forest Department, sixty-two year- old Ramamurthi from Maharajakadai village on the Chittoor-Krishnagiri highway encountered the leopard when he went to milk his cows in a shed behind his house around 7 am. 

Ramamurthi’s residence is just two kilometres from the forest boundary. To his shock, the farmer noticed a leopard preparing to attack a cow in his shed. As he tried to chase the animal away to protect his cattle, the leopard, within a fraction of a second, pounced on him. Ramamurthi had taken a sickle along to chop fodder for his cattle, which fortunately came in handy for self-defence. 

The farmer, determined not to yield to the leopard, managed to overpower the big cat and attacked it hard on its head with the sickle. As the severely injured leopard lay lifeless on the ground, the panicked farmer rushed out and informed his neighbours about the incident. The villagers then took him to the Krishnagiri Government Hospital for treatment since he too had suffered injuries in his battle with the leopard. 

On receiving information, a team of Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and retrieved the carcass of the animal. It has been sent for autopsy. “The leopard had suffered severe injuries on its head and forelimbs. An inquiry is underway to ascertain if the farmer killed the leopard only in self-defence or for any other reason,” said A Babu, Krishnagiri Forest Range Officer.