Hassan (Karnataka), Feb 24 (IANS): Villagers from Karnataka's Hassan district have killed an adult leopard which has attacked and injured at least five people in two neighbouring villages.

The leopard was killed in the Bendekere village of Arasikere taluk on Tuesday evening. This hamlet also shares its boundary with Tumkuru district, which has seen the highest number of leopard attacks in the recent past.

The Bendekere village is around 180 km from tech hub Bengaluru.

Deputy Conservator of Forest (Hassan division) K.N. Basavaraj told IANS that the leopard was killed by the mob, when it attacked a family of husband, wife and daughter who were travelling on a bike.

"The leopard pounced at them from behind the bushes along a Bendekere village road, forcing them to fall off their bike and caught the woman's leg. Fearing for their life, both man and his daughter raised an alarm, villagers working in nearby fields immediately gathered and attacked the leopard and killed it," he said.

The DCF further added that the slain leopard had earlier attacked a mother and a son in Bhovi colony of Byragondanahalli which is just five kms away from Bendekere.

"This leopard had attacked mother and son on Monday and after this incident came to light, the forest department had laid nets and traps to capture this animal. During this process, it had attacked our veterinary doctor too, when he was taking aim at the creature to capture it alive. After attacking our doctor it managed to escape," he explained.

According to him the leopard was perhaps hungry, tired, thirsty and weak as it was being tracked for past few days. It had been on the run due. This may have made it difficult to escape the mob and succumbed to injuries.

"Prima facie investigations reveal that the leopard had been attacked with sickle also as there were two or three cut marks visible on its body. We are yet to receive an autopsy report and the real cause of death can only be ascertained based on this report," he reasoned in response to a question.

The forest department has registered a case and further investigation is on.