Leopard Kills 13-Year-Old In Pune Village; Villagers Torch Forest Dept Vehicle

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 14:40 IST

Rohan Bombe, 13, was killed by a leopard in Pimparkhed village, Pune, sparking protests and anger at Maharashtra Forest Department.

Rohan Bombe, 13, was killed by a leopard in Pimparkhed village, Pune, sparking protests and anger at Maharashtra Forest Department.(Representational image/Wikimedia)

In a chilling turn of events at Pimparkhed village in the Shirur tehsil of Pune district, a 13-year-old boy, Rohan Bombe, was mauled to death by a leopard on Sunday while playing near farm fields.

His tragic death marked another blow in a region already reeling under rising human-wildlife conflict. The attack took place in broad daylight, triggering fury among villagers who gathered outside local forest department facilities demanding action.

In their protest against what they described as repeated inaction, the villagers set fire to a patrolling van belonging to the Maharashtra Forest Department. One resident said, “People are terrified. Children can’t even play outside. What are the authorities doing?"

Forest officials say they have launched intensified search and monitoring operations, including setting up cage-traps and camera units around the area. “We are monitoring the movement and have alerted nearby villages to avoid venturing near fields after dusk," said a forestry official.

The incident draws attention to the escalating human–leopard conflict in the region, where sugar-cane fields, shrinking forest corridors and settlements in proximity to wildlife habitats are creating a perilous mix for vulnerable communities. Locals are demanding long-term mitigation measures rather than sporadic responses.

News cities Leopard Kills 13-Year-Old In Pune Village; Villagers Torch Forest Dept Vehicle

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