17 May,2026 10:44 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Officials said the leopard attacked the child, dragged him into nearby bushes and killed him on the spot. Representational Pic/File
Forest officials on Sunday captured a leopard that had allegedly killed an eight-year-old boy nearly a month ago in Shahapur area of Maharashtra's Thane district, reported the PTI.
According to officials from the Dolkhamb forest division, the leopard entered one of the cages placed in the area late on Saturday night, bringing relief to several villages that had been living in fear since the fatal attack.
Forest officials said the captured animal will undergo a detailed medical examination before any decision is taken regarding its relocation or release.
"The leopard has been safely captured and further action will be decided after veterinary checks," an official said, according to the PTI.
Senior Inspector Suresh Gavit from Kasara police station also confirmed the development.
Soon after the leopard was trapped, videos circulated on social media showing villagers gathering near the vehicle carrying the caged animal.
Many residents, including children, were seen cheering as the leopard was taken away by forest officials.
The capture has brought major relief to residents of Shahapur and nearby villages, where fear had spread following the deadly attack in April.
The incident took place on April 16, when eight-year-old Krishna Bhaga Agiwale from Kalbhonde village in the Kasara range had gone near a forested patch close to his home to collect wild fruits.
Officials said the leopard attacked the child, dragged him into nearby bushes and killed him on the spot.
The tragic incident had triggered concern among villagers, who had demanded immediate action from the forest department.
Meanwhile, after two days of an intense search and rescue operation, the leopard that entered a factory in Chakan was finally captured late on Monday night, bringing major relief to company employees and nearby residents.
The forest department issued a statement, stating that the leopard was first spotted on the company premises on Saturday morning after CCTV footage showed the animal entering the factory campus in search of prey.
The leopard later got trapped inside the massive shop floor area, prompting the company management to completely shut down production activities for two days as a precautionary measure.
Forest officials said locating and capturing the leopard inside such a huge Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant manufacturing facility proved extremely challenging. Due to the vast area of the plant, forest teams had to carry out extensive combing operations to identify the animal's exact location.
Officials said the hungry leopard was eventually trapped in a cage strategically placed inside the manufacturing unit while it was searching for prey.
(with PTI inputs)
