Balasore: Residents of Gada village in Khaira of Balasore district today heaved a sigh of relief after the leopard that injured six people including a forest guard was finally captured by the forest team at around 11 pm on Saturday.
A tranquilise team from Similipal has successfully captured the animal after tranquilising it inside a house in Gada village.
A team of senior forest officials including Baripada ACF, Balasore ACF and Balasore DFO with Nilagiri, Oupada range officers were part of the operation. Khaira police was also present on the spot.
The wild animal was caught after an eight-hour-long operation, forest officials said. The animal was taken to Kuldiha sanctuary for its release
The leopard attacked a woman of Gada village, identified as Satybhama and her husband while they were working in their backyard field.
Hearing her scream, her fellow neighbours rushed to the site but the leopard escaped from the scene and went deep into the forest.
Seriously injured Satyabhama was first admitted to Khaira CHC and later shifted to the Bhadrak district headquarters hospital.
The leopard then allegedly attacked others including a forest guard and escaped to a nearby jungle.
