Raipur: Panic gripped a village in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district after a leopard attacked a three-year-old girl and tried to carry her away, but the child was rescued in time by her mother and alert villagers.The incident took place in Kotrichhapar village, where the girl was playing outside her house when the leopard suddenly pounced on her. According to locals, the animal had almost lifted the child when her mother raised an alarm, drawing villagers to the spot. The residents rushed in and managed to free the girl from the leopard’s grip.The child suffered serious injuries on her neck and legs in the attack. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.Soon after the incident was reported, a forest department team reached the village. Officials provided the victim’s family an immediate relief amount of Rs 1,000 and advised residents in the area to remain alert.Villagers said fear has deepened in the area as this is not the first such incident. Around two months ago, a leopard had reportedly attacked an elderly man in the same region, heightening concerns over repeated movement of wild animals near habitat.The latest attack has once again raised questions over human-wildlife conflict in forest-fringe villages, with residents demanding stronger monitoring and preventive measures to avoid a repeat.
