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In this photo taken Tuesday, July 19, 2011, a leopard attacks a forest guard at Prakash Nagar village near Salugara, on the outskirts of Siliguri, India. The leopard strayed into the village area and mauled several villagers, including three guards, before being caught by forest officials, according to news reports. The leopard, which suffered injuries caused by knives and batons, died later in the evening at a veterinary center. The forest guard being attacked was injured. (AP Photo) INDIA OUT
KOLKATA, India » A leopard that mauled 11 people in a fierce showdown with Indian villagers has died of knife wounds after being captured.
The snarling adult, male leopard leapt at locals and forest officials as they tried to drive it back toward a wildlife sanctuary in West Bengal state.
Forest official Dharma Dev Rai says villagers used knives, stones and batons to beat back the cat. It injured six villagers, a policeman and four forest guards before being hit with a tranquilizer gun Tuesday.
The injured animal died within hours, and a post mortem is being conducted. It happened near Siliguri, about 373 miles from Kolkata.
Leopards are protected in India though more cats are straying into villages in search of food.
