Bengaluru: Police registered a case against a group of Timmasandra villagers from Hebbur Hobli in Tumakuru district for allegedly attacking a 48-year-old veterinary doctor during a leopard rescue operation Thursday.The action was taken based on a formal complaint lodged by Prayag HS, the assistant director of veterinary medical services from Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP).Prayag was deputed to monitor three elephants that were taking part in Dussehra celebrations in Tumakuru. Meanwhile, on the morning of Oct 22, district forest officer Basavaraju called Prayag, saying a leopard had appeared in the agricultural land of a farmer, Ashwath, and his presence was needed in case the animal was to be tranquilised.Accordingly, Prayag reached the spot at around 8am. According to Prayag, around 50-60 villagers had gathered at the scene, disturbing the rescue operation by shouting at the top of their voices. Repeated requests to the crowd to maintain silence were futile. The situation escalated when the leopard climbed a coconut tree to evade capture.As the rescue team attempted to secure the animal, an agitated crowd of villagers began shouting at Prayag, demanding that he catch the leopard, which was on the coconut tree, immediately. The villagers reportedly threatened the doctor and other officials, warning that they would strip them if the animal was not captured right away.In the resulting commotion and noise generated by the crowd, the leopard managed to slip away and escape. Infuriated by the animal’s escape, the mob turned violent and assaulted Prayag. Further, the attack continued when Prayag was shifted to a jeep in a bid to visit a hospital for treatment.Police booked around 15 unidentified villagers under different sections of BNS, including 126 (wrongful restraint), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 189 (unlawful assembly). No arrests have been made so far, police said.
