Leopard strays into Assam's Dibrugarh residential area, attacks 2

DIBRUGARH: A full-grown leopard entered a densely populated residential area at Dibrujan in Dibrugarh town on Wednesday evening and attacked two persons, triggering panic among the local residents.
The locals suspect that the leopard might have strayed into the area from the nearby Maijan tea estate situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra. It sneaked into the residence of a local businessman, Mukibur Rahman. Two persons, who have been identified as Aslam Ayaz (51) and Samina Begum (27), were caught unawares and attacked by the animal, which was prowling inside the house knocking things around.
The two injured persons were rushed to the Assam Medical College and Hospital. Dr Sanjeeb Kakati, principal of AMCH, said Aslam sustained injuries near his left eye, while Samina suffered minor injuries in her leg. Both were being treated in the surgery department of the medical college.
Divisional forest officer of Dibrugarh forest division BV Sandeep, who had rushed to the spot with his team, said efforts were on to capture the big cat, which has now taken shelter in an under-construction building in the same neighbourhood. A team from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is expected to arrive to tranquilise the leopard.
“We have sought the help of the WTI team based in Tinsukia. They will arrive with tranquilisers and other equipment. We will try to capture the leopard by tranquilising it for which we will need a vantage point,” Sandeep said.