Pune: Man-Leopard Conflict Intensifies; 11-Year-Old Boy Killed in Shirur Taluka
In a tragic incident highlighting the increasing conflict between humans and leopards in Pune district, an 11-year-old boy, Yash Suresh Gaikwad, was killed in a leopard attack at Dahiwadi in Shirur taluka. This incident has sparked fear and mourning in the area, as it comes amidst a spate of leopard attacks on citizens in recent days.
Yash, a class V student, had gone to a sugarcane field behind his house for a natural ritual but did not return home. After a search, his body was found in the field, partly eaten by a leopard. This incident has not only left the family devastated but has also angered the villagers, who have expressed their frustration with the forest department.
The rise in leopard attacks has been a cause for concern in Pune district, with incidents like this adding to the fear among citizens. Forest Range Officer Pratap Jagtap has taken measures to address the situation, including installing six cages and trap cameras in Dahiwadi and using drones to locate leopards.
The villagers of Shirur taluka are demanding a permanent solution to the increasing leopard menace, which has claimed three lives in the area in recent days. The forest department is investigating the incident and awaiting the autopsy report to understand the circumstances of Yash’s death.
