
Veterinary officer alleges assault by group during leopard rescue op
A government veterinary officer was assaulted by a group of people during a leopard rescue operation in Thimmasandra village of Tumakuru taluk, police said. Tumakuru Range Forest Officer Basavaraju informed Prayag H S, Assistant Director of Veterinary Medical Services at Bannerghatta Biological Park, about a leopard stuck in a coconut tree at a farm on October 22. Forest department officials, police personnel, and NGO members reached the spot where 50 to 60 villagers had gathered. Police stated that 10 to 15 people instigated others, obstructed the operation, ignored safety warnings, and demanded the immediate capture of the animal before the leopard descended and fled. The complainant alleged that individuals shoved him, hit him on the back, abused him, and blocked his departmental vehicle. Police registered a case against 15 unidentified people under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for offenses including wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult, unlawful assembly, and obstructing a public servant, and stated that further investigation is underway.






