Shinde visits Shirur, promises action after leopard attacks

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday visited families in Shirur tehsil who lost their loved ones in fatal leopard attacks over the past 20 days.

- Varad Bhatkhande

Shinde consoled the grieving relatives and assured swift government action to address the recurring leopard menace.

Three people were killed within 20 days by a man-eating leopard in Pimparkhed and Jambut villages of Shirur tehsil. A leopard was caught in Pimparkhed on Tuesday, while another was shot dead by a sharpshooter in a nearby area early on Wednesday.

During Junnar Shinde's visit, MLA Sharad Sonawane, former Shirur MLA Popatrao Gawade, Assistant Conservator of Forest Smita Rajhans, Shirur Range Forest Officer Nilkanth Gawade, and other officials were present.

'We will solve leopard menace'

Shinde sat with villagers and heard their grievances, which included frequent leopard attacks, poor infrastructure, and other local issues. He assured them that the state government would take firm steps to resolve the crisis.