New Delhi: In a dramatic encounter, a man fought off a leopard with his bare hands after being attacked at a brick kiln in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district. The incident, which took place in the Baburi village under Dhaurahara tehsil, was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.
The man, identified as Mihilal Gautam, had gone to extract ash from the brick kiln on Tuesday afternoon when a leopard suddenly emerged from nearby fields and pounced on him. Despite sustaining injuries in the initial attack, Mihilal resisted the animal for several minutes, grappling with it on the ground.
Labourers rushed to help man
According to eyewitnesses, labourers working at the site rushed to the man’s aid by throwing bricks and stones at the leopard from atop the kiln. The animal eventually fled the scene but not before injuring four other people in its path.
Mihilal was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and later referred to the district hospital for further treatment. His condition is said to be stable.
Officials capture the animal
Forest department officials, who were alerted soon after the incident, arrived at the location and successfully tranquilised and captured the leopard. The animal is believed to have strayed from the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, which has witnessed increasing instances of wild animals entering human settlements in recent months.
Locals have expressed concern over repeated leopard sightings in the area, particularly near agricultural fields and settlements. Many farmers have reportedly stopped visiting their fields due to fear of animal attacks.
