A young man in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh was hospitalized following an incident he described as a sudden leopard attack while riding his motorcycle along the Narmada riverbank. However, forest department authorities have cast doubt on his account, stating a lack of concrete evidence.
The Alleged Attack on a Riverbank Path
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday evening near Talwada Deb of Indrapuri village in the Anjad area. The youth, identified as Vishal Mandloi, a resident of Indrapuri, stated he was on his way to his field to light an earthen lamp as part of his daily routine. According to his version of events, he was travelling on a narrow footpath along the riverbank near Kirmohi when the alleged attack happened.
Mandloi claimed that a leopard, which was sitting in a field, suddenly pounced on him. The impact caused him to lose balance and fall off his motorcycle. He further recounted that the animal bit his leg, prompting him to pick up nearby stones and throw them at the leopard, which then fled towards the forest through the fields.
Villagers' Response and Official Investigation
Hearing Vishal Mandloi's cries for help, villagers working in nearby fields rushed to the spot. They provided immediate assistance and took the injured man to a nearby health centre. He was later referred to the district hospital for further treatment. Doctors administered anti-rabies injections and dressed the wound on his leg. His condition is reported to be stable.
The incident has instilled a sense of fear among the residents of Indrapuri village. Locals mentioned existing apprehensions about a leopard's presence in the area, which has kept the community on edge.
Contrary to the victim's claim, Barwani Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashish Bansod rejected the leopard attack narrative. He informed that a forest department team was dispatched to the location after receiving information. The team, however, did not find any leopard pugmarks or other definitive proof of such an attack.
Forest Department's Stance and Ongoing Measures
DFO Ashish Bansod added that the nature of the injuries sustained by Vishal Mandloi did not appear consistent with a typical leopard attack pattern. He explained that leopards generally do not attack in the manner described by the youth.
Addressing the broader context, the DFO acknowledged a significant leopard population in the riverbank area. He stated that the forest department is conducting regular patrolling and has launched public awareness drives. As a preventive measure, cages have also been installed in areas prone to leopard movement.
The conflicting accounts have left the incident shrouded in mystery, highlighting the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in regions bordering forest areas.
