Death of elderly woman sparks fear of leopard

The headless body of a woman sparked rumours that a leopard had killed her at Uriyurkuppam near Thakkolam on Tuesday. However, officials of the Forest Department, who rushed to the spot, said villagers had found a pack of dogs biting the woman’s corpse but she had reportedly died due to an accidental fall.

Accidental fall

Mariammal (85), a resident of Uriyurkuppam, had climbed the bunds of a pond behind her house to attend nature’s call on Monday morning.

However, she had accidentally fallen from the bund that was nearly 15 feet high, and died. Her neck bone had broken in the impact of the fall, according to officials.

“The body had decomposed due to exposure to sun. A pack of dogs had bitten her neck and the head was found severed nearby. They had killed one of the dogs too,” an official, who visited the spot, said.

But this led to rumours that the woman was killed by a leopard.

Personnel of the Arcot Forest Range rushed to the spot. “We found a shed with about 40 dogs next to Mariammal’s house. If it was a leopard, it would have attacked the goats,” said M. Vijay, Forest Range Officer, Arcot Range, Ranipet.

Following the scare among villagers, he said two personnel will keep vigil at the village, particularly at night.

The officer also visited Pudhu Kesavaram where the villagers claimed that they had spotted a leopard.