Two-year-old boy killed in leopard attack in Satara's Nhalewadi, villagers march to Jalmandir palace
Villagers from three villages demanded that the leopard be dealt with at once after Jay Khandagale's death; the Forest Department gave Rs 10 lakh in immediate aid.
Anger erupted on Sunday after a two-year-old boy, Jay Khandagale, was killed in a leopard attack at Nhalewadi in Satara. Relatives of the child, along with villagers from three neighbouring villages, went straight to the Jalmandir Palace of MP Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale. They asked who the Forest Department's measures were for if a child playing at the door of his own home could not be kept safe.
Jay, son of Sandeep Khandagale, was playing in front of the house at about 7.30 pm on Saturday. A leopard lying in wait nearby suddenly pounced on him. Jay was seriously injured and died before he could receive treatment.
As news spread through the village, fear was matched by growing anger at the way the Forest Department works. With the child's body at home and the fear of the leopard hanging over the surrounding area, the villagers did not ask only for financial help. They insisted that the leopard be dealt with immediately. As villagers gathered in large numbers at the Jalmandir Palace, senior Forest Department officials and the police also reached the spot.
The villagers demanded answers from the forest officials and asked that a drive to capture the leopard begin immediately. The officials assured them that the leopard would be caged at the earliest. The villagers said they now wanted to see action, not promises.
In the presence of MP Udayanraje Bhosale, the Forest Department gave the child's family immediate assistance of Rs 10 lakh. The family was assured that the remaining Rs 15 lakh would be paid within a month under government rules. The aid has not eased the family's grief. Jay's father, Sandeep Khandagale, said: "Money will not bring our Jay back. We have lost our son, now do not let another child lose his life. Deal with the leopard for good."
In view of the growing danger in the Nhalewadi area, a meeting of senior Forest Department officials will be held tomorrow in the presence of the Satara District Collector. The meeting will discuss how to deal with the leopard, measures for people's safety and the plan needed to prevent such incidents in future. The villagers, however, ask when real action will follow meetings and assurances.
The administration has swung into action after Jay's death. If this does not turn into firm action, there are fears that anger in Nhalewadi will grow further.
