Veraval: In a desperate man-versus-wild incident, a 60-year-old farmer allegedly killed a leopard with a sickle and spear while trying to protect himself and his son after the animal attacked them in Gir Somnath district.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night around 10 pm, when Babu Vaja was resting on the verandah of his house on the outskirts of Gangda village, about 100 km from Veraval. A leopard reportedly emerged from nearby fields and suddenly pounced near the house, knocking down two-wheelers. Hearing the noise, Vaja woke up, but before he could react, the leopard attacked him.

According to Vaja, the leopard grabbed his arm and began dragging him. Hearing his cries, his son Shardul rushed to help but was also attacked and injured. Vaja said the animal assaulted them repeatedly for several minutes.

In the struggle, Vaja managed to get hold of a sickle and spear and attacked the wild cat in self-defence, eventually killing it. Both Vaja and his son sustained injuries to their forearms and forehead and were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Forest officials later reached the spot, sent the carcass for post-mortem, and recovered the weapons used in the incident.

Range Forest Officer L B Bharwad said that a case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act against the father and son for killing the leopard, and an investigation is underway. DeshGujarat