From 'Aaja, Aaja' to 'Bhaag, Bhaag': Trio instigates leopard in Madhya Pradesh, end up in hospital

'Aaja, Aaja, Aaja,' they could be heard calling the leopard in the video before the big cat actually pounced at them and the panic-stricken group started screaming "bhaag, bhaag" as they started running from the apex predator.

Three people in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol had to be taken to the hospital after they were attacked by a leopard while picnicking near the Son River.

In a video circulating online that was allegedly shot by one of victims, the group can be seen instigating the big cat.

"Aaja... Aaja, Aaja," they are heard calling the leopard in the video before the big cat actually pounced at them and the panic-stricken group started screaming "bhaag, bhaag" as they started running from the apex predator.

"Advisory has been issued. We have asked officials to alert villagers and other people not to go into the forests. A control room has also been set up to help people in such incidents," the publication quoted sub-divisional forest officer, Shahdol, Badshah Rawat as saying.

Meanwhile, man-animal conflicts have been on a rise in a country with reports of attacks emerging frequently.

A seven-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack in Shirur taluka of Pune district a few days back, while a A 13-year-old girl was killed by a leopard in the Bhilangana range of Tehri forest division in Uttarakhand last week. According to officials, this is the third leopard attack in the area in the last four months. The incident took place hours after Divisional Forest Officer Puneet Tomar had visited the area.

Rajasthan has also been witnessing several leopard attacks of late. In Udaipur district, humans were hunted by leopards on September 18, 19, 20, 25, 28 and 30. In the above incidents, the place of attack by leopards is Gram Panchayat Chhali, Bagdunda, Majavad and Madar under the jurisdiction of Deputy Forest Conservator Udaipur (North).

In a fresh attack on Wednesday, the leopard attacked two women who were working in in the field in Madar village of Badgaon. One of the woman, who was seriously injured in the leopard attack, died during treatment.

The leopard which was shot dead in Madar area near the city is said to be involved in these attacks.

(With PTI inputs)