Leopard sneaks into village, attacks boy and ranger

Villagers were forced to stage a rescue after a leopard crept into a tiny town, attacking a boy and a forest ranger.

The 12-hour operation began on Monday local time when the leopard was seen slinking into a house in the Bolangir district in the state of Orissa, the New Indian Express reports.

A neighbour raised the alarm but then the big cat attacked a local boy, Milan Rana, and a forest ranger, Bijay Khuntia, when he arrived on the scene.

Mr Khuntia was left with a gash to his head and both needed treatment in hospital.

Video taken by a witness shows chaotic scenes with a group of men chasing the leopard across the rooftops of several houses.

The leopard was eventually lured into a cage with the help of two chickens placed inside.

An enraged mob can be seen in the video beating the cage with sticks.

Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, Bolangir’s district forest officer, said the crowd actually posed the biggest problem for officials trying to catch the leopard.

"We would have captured the animal if the villagers wouldn't have created disturbance to during the operation. I am glad that we finally managed to cage the beast."