Leopard attacks priest in Kurseong's Shiva temple; Forest officials on alert

A wave of panic has swept through the Dudhia region in Kurseong after a leopard attacked a temple priest on Wednesday night. The victim, identified as Jitendra Rai, was performing his daily rituals at the ‘Mukteshwar Shivdham’ temple, located near the popular Mukti Pul picnic spot. The animal reportedly emerged suddenly from the dense forest and pounced on him while he was near the road leading from Dudhia to Naldhara.

Hearing the priest’s screams, local residents and passersby rushed to the spot, causing the leopard to retreat into the deep woods. Jitendra Rai sustained serious injuries and was immediately taken to a local hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. His condition is reported to be stable but requires medical supervision due to deep claw wounds.

Following the incident, the local police and the Forest Department reached the spot to assess the situation. The news of the leopard's presence near a popular tourist and pilgrimage site has created a sense of dread among the local community and winter tourists visiting the hills. Forest officials believe the animal might have strayed from the nearby forest in search of prey.