Three people were arrested in Tumakuru district of Karnataka on Friday for allegedly burning alive a leopard that had been caught in an illegal snare trap in a ragi field, the Forest Department said. The incident was recorded and shared on WhatsApp, triggering outrage.
The accused -- GD Shivakumar, Narayanappa and Chandrashekar, all residents of Gauragondanahalli village in Tumakuru taluk -- were remanded in judicial custody. More arrests are likely, officials said.
The incident took place on farmland owned by Narayanappa at the foothills of a hill. According to the Forest Department, nearly half of his ragi crop had been destroyed by wild boars, peacocks and leopards coming down from the nearby hill. Frustrated by the crop loss, a sharp wire snare was allegedly set around the field to protect the remaining crop.
Deep Dive
What happened to the leopard that was caught in the snare trap in Karnataka?
Why did the farmers in Karnataka set a snare trap around their field?
How are the arrested individuals being treated under wildlife protection laws after burning the leopard?
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Two days ago, a leopard was trapped in it. However, instead of informing the Forest Department, the farm owner and others allegedly decided to kill the animal.
Tumkur Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) V Pavithra told HT, “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.”
{{/usCountry}}Tumkur Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) V Pavithra told HT, “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.”
{{/usCountry}}Acting on information after the videos began circulating, Forest Department officials conducted a raid on Friday afternoon and found charred meat and burnt remains. The three main accused were detained.
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They were taken to the district hospital for medical examination and later produced before a court, which remanded them in judicial custody. Officials said the accused admitted to burning the leopard and confirmed that the recovered charred meat belonged to the animal.
The partially burnt carcass was taken to the Sub-Divisional Forest Department office. Further investigation is underway, officials said.