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Panic ensues in Nashik after toddler is mauled by leopard

High levels of fear have spread among villagers in and around Bhuse village in Nashik district after a four-year-old was dragged and killed by a leopard late on Friday evening.

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High levels of fear have spread among villagers in and around Bhuse village in Nashik district after a four-year-old was dragged and killed by a leopard late on Friday evening.

Ganesh Pote was playing in the yard outside his house at Bhuse village in Niphad tehsil of Nashik district on the evening of April 17. He was being watched over by his grandfather and other relatives who were relaxing after the day's work in their farm.

Suddenly, a leopard pounced on Ganesh, and taking him by his neck, it dragged him into the adjacent standing maize field. Shouts and cries by a terrified Ganesh, his grandfather and relatives brought the other house inmates to dart outside.

Shortly, villagers gathered, and armed with sticks, they all rushed into the field to track Ganesh. However, they spotted the boy too late. At some distance, they found Ganesh lying still, with deep injuries on his neck.

Hearing the villagers' shouts, the animal may have dumped the child and fled, as no one could spot it anywhere. Police forest officials arrived soon, and tried looking for the leopard, but it was nowhere to be seen.

Ganesh's body was taken to hospital for post-mortem, before being handed over to his family.

Now in constant fear that more leopards may stray into their village again, villagers have demanded that cages be put up. The forest officials who visited the area on Friday put up two cages to trap the animal.

Trimbak Binnar, range forest officer, Sinnar range, said that the area was surrounded by fields, and the Pote's live on their farm. "The leopards in this area generally stray out for prey and water. Niphad is situated along the river, and the leopards find easy prey in form of stray dogs or cattle in fields," he explained.

Binnar added: "The boy's death is unfortunate and the family will be given compensation as per government rules."

In addition to the traps, the forest department has posted three forest guards in the region to keep

watch over the land. Previously, a boy was dragged and injured by a leopard in Saikheda village in Niphad tehsil.

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