Leopard Kills Seven-Year-Old Girl in Pauri District, Villagers Hold MLA's Car for 90 Minutes
A leopard killed a seven-year-old girl in Khandusain village, Pauri district; angry villagers surrounded a visiting BJP MLA's car for about 90 minutes demanding the animal be captured.
Current Summary
A leopard killed a four-year-old girl — not seven, as initially reported — in Khandyusain village on the Devprayag-Pauri motor road in Uttarakhand's Pauri district, attacking her around 6pm on Tuesday, November 3. The death triggered immediate anger: local MLA Rajkumar Pori, who arrived to meet the family around 7:30pm, was surrounded by villagers who climbed onto his vehicle and raised slogans, forcing him to remain inside for hours until he addressed the crowd around 10:15pm and promised security measures, after which the protest dispersed. Anger reignited on Wednesday, when villagers blocked the Pauri-Devprayag motor road from around 8am and, in a further escalation, locked Pauri Tehsildar Rajendra Goswami and Forest Department SDO Ayesha Bisht inside a shop. Divisional Forest Officer Mahatim Yadav was allegedly manhandled when he reached the spot. Villagers say repeated requests for stronger patrols and leopard-proof cages had previously brought only assurances with little action, and are demanding the leopard be captured immediately. Forest Department figures cited in reporting show leopard attacks killed 219 people and injured 1,019 in Uttarakhand between 2014 and 2024, with a separate government report putting the toll at 214 deaths and 1,006 injuries for the same period.
What We Know
- A seven-year-old girl was killed by a leopard in Khandusain village, Pauri district, while in her home courtyard in the evening.
- Villagers surrounded and held the car of a visiting BJP MLA for about 90 minutes, raising slogans against the government and Forest Department.
- Residents say past requests for stronger patrols and cages produced only assurances.
- Forest Department data shows leopard attacks killed 219 people and injured 1,019 in Uttarakhand from 2014 to 2024; a separate government report cites 214 deaths and 1,006 injuries for the period.
- The victim's age has been corrected to four, not seven as initially reported.
- The MLA involved is Rajkumar Pori.
- On Wednesday, villagers blocked the Pauri-Devprayag motor road and locked Tehsildar Rajendra Goswami and Forest SDO Ayesha Bisht inside a shop.
- Divisional Forest Officer Mahatim Yadav was allegedly manhandled when he arrived at the scene.
What Is Still Unclear
- The exact date and time of the attack.
- Whether the Forest Department has deployed a team or cage to capture the leopard.
- The identity of the MLA involved and any official response issued since the protest.
What Changed
- 4 Nov, 11:11 amNew reporting identifies the victim's age as four, not seven as initially reported, and names the MLA involved as Rajkumar Pori. The attack occurred around 6pm Tuesday near Khandyusain on the Devprayag-Pauri motor road. Pori reached the family around 7:30pm and was surrounded by villagers who climbed on his vehicle; he remained inside until stepping out around 10:15pm to promise security measures, after which the crowd dispersed. Protests resumed and escalated Wednesday: villagers blocked the Pauri-Devprayag motor road from around 8am, and protesters locked Pauri Tehsildar Rajendra Goswami and Forest Department SDO Ayesha Bisht inside a shop. Divisional Forest Officer Mahatim Yadav was allegedly manhandled when he arrived at the scene.
- 4 Nov, 07:10 amSignal detected: Leopard Kills Seven-Year-Old Girl in Pauri District, Villagers Hold MLA's Car for 90 Minutes
Background
Human-leopard conflict has been rising in Uttarakhand, with attacks increasingly reported in village courtyards and broad daylight.