Pune: Leopard Attack Claims Life of Four-Year-Old in Alephata; Locals Demand Action
Junnar, 10th October 2023: A four-year-old boy, Shivansh Bhujbal, was fatally attacked by a leopard in Alephata’s Ale village. Despite courageous efforts to save him, the child succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The incident has intensified concerns over increasing leopard attacks in the area.
On Monday evening around 5 o’clock, Shivansh, the son of Amol Bhujbal, was playing in the yard of their pheasant farm in Ale village with his grandfather, Nivritti Bhujbal. A leopard emerged from a nearby sugarcane field and attacked the child, grabbing him by the neck and dragging him into the field. Avinash Gadge, a local youth, displayed immense courage by chasing the leopard in an attempt to save the child.
Despite the brave efforts, Shivansh was seriously injured in the attack. He was rushed to a private hospital in Alephata for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Otur Forest Range Officer V. M. Kakade, Police Inspector Yashwant Nalavde, and Assistant Police Inspector Sunil Badgujar visited the scene and conducted a Panchnama.
The incident has heightened fears among Alephata residents as leopard attacks are becoming increasingly frequent. Just four days ago, a leopard attacked a bike rider in Agarmala, who narrowly escaped. Domestic animals are also falling victim to these attacks, making citizens afraid to leave their homes.
Former Zilla Parishad member Prasanna Doke has issued a strong warning, stating that villagers will protest and block roads if the forest department does not take immediate action. The demand is for an increase in the number of cages to capture the leopards plaguing the area.
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