Three persons were detained for allegedly burning a leopard in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, forest officials said on Saturday.
The arrested men are farmers from Gauragondanahalli village who had set a snare trap around their ragi field. Officials have identified them as Narayanappa, GD Shivakumar, and Chandreshakar. The incident, which was recorded and shared on social media platform, has triggered outrage. The accused have been remanded in judicial custody, and more arrests are likely, officials said.
The incident happened on Narayanappa’s farmland. According to the forest department, Narayanappa cultivated ragi on his land, but nearly half of the crop were destroyed by repeated attacks from wild boars, peacocks and leopards.
Frustrated by the crop loss and seeking to protect the remaining crop from wild animals, a sharp wire snare trap was illegally set around the field.
Two days ago, a leopard that came in search of prey got caught in the snare. Tumakuru assistant conservator of forests (ACF) V Pavithra told HT that on Friday morning, Narayanappa, along with GD Shivakumar, Chandrashekar and some youths from the village, allegedly went to the spot and set the trapped leopard on fire.
“In a cruel act, videos of the leopard being burnt were reportedly recorded and shared by some people in local WhatsApp groups,” Pavithra said.
Acting on credible information and after the videos started circulating, forest officials conducted a raid on Friday afternoon. They found charred meat and burnt remains. The three main accused were detained.
{{/usCountry}}Acting on credible information and after the videos started circulating, forest officials conducted a raid on Friday afternoon. They found charred meat and burnt remains. The three main accused were detained.
{{/usCountry}}Immediately after their detention, all three accused were taken to the district hospital for medical examination and then produced before a court, which remanded them in judicial custody.
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According to officials, the accused have admitted to burning the leopard. It has also been confirmed that the recovered charred meat belonged to a leopard.
The partially burnt carcass was brought to the premises of the sub-divisional forest department office. A team of expert veterinarians from Bannerghatta Biological Park were called for a preliminary examination.
Pavithra said, “As evidence, samples from important parts of the leopard’s body were collected and sent to the forensic science laboratory in Hyderabad for detailed examination. A team of experts from Bengaluru will also conduct further tests.”
“More information will be available after the report is received after next Monday. The number of people arrested in connection with the leopard’s burning could increase,” she added.
Senior forest officials held meetings until late on Friday night and intensified the investigation to identify the others seen in the videos.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, hunting, trapping or causing harm to protected wildlife, including leopards, which are Schedule-I animals, is a serious non-bailable offence that can attract imprisonment of up to seven years.
Forest officials have advised local farmers and residents not to set up illegal electric fences or wire snares. Instead, in cases of crop damage or wild animal menace, they should immediately inform the forest department helpline.
Further investigation is underway.