Jaipur, July 21: Panic ensued in the Todaraisingh town of Tonk district, Rajasthan, when a leopard entered a liquor store, attacking three individuals and remaining trapped inside for nearly five hours before being rescued by the forest department.
According to officials, the leopard was first spotted around 8:45 AM on Monday near bushes close to the town. Local forest friend Rakesh received information from residents and rushed to the scene. As he approached the bushes, the leopard suddenly attacked him and sprinted approximately 400 meters to the nearby liquor store.
The animal first attacked Fateh Lal Koli (40), who was sitting outside the shop, before entering and attacking the vendor, Sanjay Gurjar (25). Despite his injuries, Sanjay displayed quick thinking by immediately shutting the shop’s shutter, trapping the leopard inside and preventing it from escaping into the crowded market.
Sanjay recounted, “I somehow pushed the leopard away and ran towards the exit. While running, I pulled down the shutter. After that, I lost consciousness.” He sustained injuries from the leopard’s claws on his hands, shoulder, and nose, and was later referred to Jaipur for treatment.
The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh, the forest friend, Fateh Lal Koli (40), and Sanjay Gurjar (25). Rakesh was discharged after receiving first aid, while Sanjay and Fateh Lal were referred for further treatment.
Following the incident, the forest department called in a special rescue team from Jhalana in Jaipur. The leopard remained trapped inside the store as police cordoned off the area, preventing people from approaching the scene. A large crowd gathered as news of the incident spread.
Around 2 PM, the rescue team successfully tranquilized the leopard with a single dart, concluding a tense five-hour operation. According to Anurag Maharshi, the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in Tonk, the rescued animal is a five-year-old male leopard. He stated that the leopard would undergo a medical examination before being released back into its natural habitat.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
