Dibrugarh: A 52-year-old farmer suffered injuries after being attacked by a leopard in the Gojpuria area of Moran in Dibrugarh district on Monday morning, marking yet another incident in the escalating man-leopard conflict plaguing the region.According to reports, Lohit Chutia was attacked by the leopard when he ventured into his garden to chase away monkeys that had been damaging his crops. The leopard suddenly leaped at him, inflicting deep wounds on his head with its sharp claws.Hearing his cries for help, nearby villagers rushed to the scene, causing the leopard to retreat into the nearby thickets. Chutia was taken to the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh. Medical officials confirmed that he received 12 stitches for his head injuries and is now in stable condition.Following the alarm, a team of forest officials and guards arrived at Gojpuria village to track the feline. The leopard was eventually spotted perched high atop a tree.To prevent further escalation and clear the area, forest guards were forced to fire several blank rounds into the air. The loud reports finally startled the leopard, which descended from the tree and disappeared into a dense patch of bushes.Local residents expressed growing frustration over the recurring leopard menace in the area.“We have been complaining about this leopard for the last six months. It has killed our goats and cows, and now it is attacking humans. We cannot go to our fields in peace. We want the department to cage or tranquilise this animal immediately before someone loses their life,” village headman Boikuntha Bora said.The incident has reignited concerns about the rising man-animal conflict in the state, particularly in areas bordering forest reserves where habitat loss and human encroachment have forced wildlife into closer proximity with human settlements.
