Leopard killing: Assassin SO rewarded; forest dept to register FIR

Lucknow: What a paradox! On the one side, the Uttar Pradesh Police is busy patting its back for killing the trapped leopard, the state forest department has announced to register an FIR under Indian Wildlife Protection Act against the assassins.

The leopard, strayed into urban population in the Aurangabad Ashiyana locality of the state capital, was finally shot dead by police much to the chagrin of the forest department. An enraged UP forest department promptly announced to file FIR against the police personnel who shot the leopard.

Contrary to this, instead of mourning the death of a hapless animal, IG Range Lucknow Sujeet Pandey announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for Station Officer of Ashiyanam Police Station Triloki Singh, who fired twice at the leopard.

After the reward declaration, Chief Forest Conservator Praveen Rao claimed had the police force responded in time, the leopard could have been caught alive. "UP Police did not provide adequate force within time which is why the leopard could not be caught alive," he regretted.

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Along with Triloki Singh, a local resident Siddharth also claimed to have fired at the leopard in self-defence.

Rao has asked SDO of Forest department of Mohanlalganj Ayodhya Prasad to submit a detailed investigation report of the entire episode within 15 days.

"An FIR is being registered under Indian Wildlife Protection Act which may amount up to seven year imprisonment to the culprit," said Ayodhya Prasad.

The leopard had been first seen in the Ashiana region on Friday morning and despite consistent attempts for over 24-hours, the officials had failed to tranquillise him. The leopard also attacked some forest officials and local residents who tried going close to him.

Some meat and a live hen were also arranged to trap the leopard but it also did not work. The officials also took help of a drone camera to keep a close watch on the animal.

Nothing, however, worked and eventually an inefficient team killed the leopard to get rid of the problematic situation.

Check the exclusive pictures from the spot: