Pune: Leopard That Killed Three, Including 13-Year-Old Boy, Shot Dead in Pimperkhed After 18-Hour Protest

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Shirur, 5th November 2025: A male leopard, believed to be responsible for the deaths of three people in Pimperkhed and surrounding areas over the past 20 days, was shot dead late on Tuesday night (November 4) following widespread public outrage and protests by villagers across Junnar, Shirur, Ambegaon, and Khed talukas.

According to forest officials, the leopard, estimated to be around five to six years old, was killed after it ‘attacked’ rescue teams during an operation near the Pimperkhed area. The big cat had reportedly killed 5-year-old Shivanya Shailesh Bombe on October 12, 82-year-old Bhagubai Rangnath Jadhav on October 22, and 13-year-old Rohan Vilas Bombe on November 2.

The series of fatal attacks had sparked intense anger among locals, who accused the Forest Department of inaction despite repeated complaints. In protest, villagers from the affected talukas blocked the Belhe–Jejuri State Highway twice (on October 12 and October 22) and the Pune–Nashik Highway at Manchar on November 3, disrupting traffic for nearly 18 hours.

Tensions escalated further on November 2, following the death of 13-year-old Rohan Bombe, when an enraged mob set ablaze a Forest Department patrol vehicle and a local base camp office in Pimperkhed.

In response to the growing unrest, Conservator of Forests Ashish Thackeray sought immediate permission from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden in Nagpur to capture or, if necessary, eliminate the “man-eating” leopard.

A special operation was launched under Thackeray’s supervision, involving two sharpshooters — Jubin Postwala and Dr. Prasad Dabholkar — and Dr. Satvik Pathak, a veterinarian from Pune. The team deployed camera traps and thermal drones to track the leopard’s movement.

According to a press release issued by the forest department, at around 10:30 pm on November 4, the leopard was sighted about 400–500 meters from the attack site. A tranquilizer dart was fired but failed to immobilize the animal, which then attempted to charge at the team. In self-defence, one of the sharpshooters fired, killing the leopard instantly.

The leopard’s carcass was shown to villagers at Mauje Pimperkhed before being taken to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center for a post-mortem examination.

The operation was executed under the guidance of Ashish Thackeray (Conservator of Forests, Pune), Prashant Khade (Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, Junnar), Smita Rajhans and Amrit Shinde (Assistant Conservators of Forests, Junnar), and Nilkanth Gavane (Forest Range Officer, Shirur), with support from members of the rescue organization and local residents.