Uttar Pradesh News: Man Fights Leopard Bare-Handed, Survives Brutal Attack In Lakhimpur Kheri (VIDEO)
Lakhimpur Kheri: In a rare display of raw courage, a 35-year-old man in Lakhimpur Kheri's Dhaurahara forest range fought off a leopard with his bare hands—surviving an attack that could have easily turned fatal.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at a brick kiln in Jugnoopur village, where Mihilal, a labourer from Girdhari Purwa, had gone for work. Unbeknownst to him, a leopard had taken refuge inside the kiln’s chimney. As he approached the area, the big cat leapt out and attacked him without warning.
What followed was nothing short of astonishing—Mihilal, unarmed and alone, grappled with the leopard using nothing but his hands. “He did not have a stick, a tool, or even a stone nearby. But he fought back with everything he had—pushing, kicking, and wrestling the leopard,” said an eyewitness working in a nearby field.
His screams and the commotion drew villagers from adjoining farms, who rushed to the scene and began hurling bricks and stones at the leopard. Overwhelmed, the animal eventually released Mihilal and fled into a nearby banana field.
The villagers immediately informed forest officials. Meanwhile, Mihilal, though severely injured, had miraculously survived what could have been a fatal encounter.
Forest officials, including Range Officer Nripendra Chaturvedi and Forester Rajesh Kumar Dixit, reached the site with a rescue team and attempted to track the leopard in the plantation. However, before they could begin the operation, the wounded and cornered leopard lashed out again—this time attacking the rescue team.
The second attack left five people injured, including Ranger Chaturvedi, Forester Dixit, PRV constable Ram Sajeevan, and a local resident Iqbal Khan. All the injured were rushed to the Community Health Centre in Dhaurahara. Mihilal, Iqbal, and Forester Dixit were later referred to Lakhimpur for advanced treatment, while the others were discharged after first aid.
As panic gripped the village, police teams led by Station Officer Suresh Kumar Mishra and Circle Officer Shamsher Bahadur Singh reached the site and helped cordon off the area.
Eventually, forest personnel succeeded in tranquilizing the leopard and capturing it safely.
“This man fought a leopard empty-handed and survived. That is not something we see every day,” said Ranger Nripendra Chaturvedi. “We were also attacked during the rescue, but thankfully the leopard is now under control.”
The entire village has hailed Mihilal as a hero—his sheer will to survive and bravery without any weaponry becoming the talk of the region.
The forest department is now assessing the animal’s condition and plans to shift it to a rescue centre. Meanwhile, officials have urged residents near forested areas to remain vigilant and report wildlife sightings immediately.
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