An eight-year-old boy from Bengaluru was killed in a suspected leopard attack on Sunday morning while accompanying his family on a pilgrimage near Mali Mahadeshwara Hills in Karnataka, renewing concerns about frequent wildlife attacks along routes used by devotees.
The boy, identified as Harshith, had traveled with his family to the hill shrine and was walking along Nagamally Road during padayatra when the animal attacked around 7 am, officials said.
According to eyewitnesses and forest officials, the family was moving through a forest area when the leopard suddenly appeared from the nearby bushes, pounced on the child and dragged him into the forest before the relatives could react. A family member said: “The attack happened within seconds. The family members screamed and tried to chase the animal, but the tiger disappeared into the forest with the child.”
Forest department personnel, accompanied by local villagers, launched a search operation soon after the incident. Harsheeth’s body was later recovered from deep in the forest area.
Officials said the carcass bore signs of scratching and partial consumption, raising concerns that the tiger may have become accustomed to attacking humans. “The incident occurred around 7 am. We have launched a combing operation to identify the tiger,” said P Surendra, deputy conservator of forests at Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We provided a $5 thousand shekels for family members and the body will be delivered after the autopsy is performed. He added: “We will install surveillance cameras and take steps to prevent further attacks.”
The attack has heightened anxiety among devotees visiting the Mali Mahadeshwara Hills, a major pilgrimage center that attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom travel on foot through the forest roads surrounding the shrine.
The latest death sparked criticism of the forest management from residents and pilgrims, who accused the authorities of failing to act despite previous leopard attacks in the area.
On January 21, a 30-year-old devotee from Mandya district, identified as Praveen, was killed by a leopard near Talupetta while traveling to the shrine. Less than a month later, on February 10, another eight-year-old boy from Channapatna survived a tiger attack on the same road.
Residents said the repeated incidents indicate escalating human-wildlife conflict in the forest areas surrounding the Mali Mahadeshwara Hills. “Despite previous deaths and attacks, the authorities have failed to provide proper protection to worshipers. People are risking their lives as they walk through these forest roads,” a worshiper claimed.
Another resident wondered why stronger preventive measures had not been taken after previous attacks. “The forest department had enough warning after previous incidents. However, there were no proper patrols or safety systems,” he added.
Forest officials and police personnel from Mali Mahadeshwara Hills later inspected the area where the attack took place. Since then, authorities have warned pilgrims against traveling through isolated areas of forests without taking the necessary precautions.
Officials said that further measures, including surveillance through CCTV cameras and intensive monitoring of the cheetah’s movement, will be taken in the coming days as efforts continue to track down the animal suspected in the attack.
