Raisen: In a dramatic turn of events, a loyal pet dog became an unexpected hero, saving its owner from a sudden leopard attack in Parameshwar village, 16 kilometers from the district headquarters on Sanchi Road.
Fifty-year-old farmer Arjun Singh Lodhi was on a hill near his home around 6:00 AM when a leopard abruptly pounced on him. Thinking quickly, he called out to his dog. Hearing its owner’s distressed cries, the dog raced to the scene. Seeing its beloved master in peril, the courageous canine immediately lunged at the leopard. Startled by the dog’s fierce counter-attack, the big cat abandoned Arjun Singh and fled back into the jungle.
Arjun Singh sustained severe injuries, including deep tooth wounds on his neck and claw marks on his shoulder and back. His family rushed him to the district hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. The entire community is now praising the brave dog for its incredible loyalty and quick thinking, which undoubtedly saved its owner’s life today.
Growing concerns and forest department response
This isn’t the first time the village has faced threats from wild animals. For the past month, there has been a consistent leopard presence in the area, with the big cat preying on domestic cattle, oxen, and goats. This marks the first instance of the leopard attacking a human.
Villagers had previously alerted the forest department about the leopard’s movements, but residents are now expressing concern that no concrete steps were taken to capture it, leading to this dangerous encounter.
DFO Pratibha Shukla stated that a rescue team has been deployed immediately upon receiving the information. The leopard will be captured and relocated to Van Vihar. This region has a history of wildlife encounters; previously, a tiger had terrorized the area before being captured by a team from Panna Sanctuary. Now, the community faces a new threat from this leopard.
