Jalpaiguri: A 12-year-old girl was killed by a leopard that pounced on the child and dragged her to a nearby forest when she was loitering in front of her residence in Jalpaiguri district on Saturday evening.

Sushila Goala, a Class V student, was a resident of Dakshin Kherkata village in Nagrakata block. The incident occurred around 6pm.

When the leopard pounced on the girl, her family members shouted for help, prompting the neighbours to give the animal a chase. They all shouted together and burst sound crackers to scare the leopard but it didn't leave the girl.

"The leopard ran into a nearby forest with the girl. Teams from Khunia and Diana forest ranges arrived and along with local people, they searched for the girl. Soon, Sushila’s lifeless body was found in the forest," said a source.

The agitated villagers surrounded the foresters and didn't allow them to leave for some time. A team of law enforcers from Nagrakata and Banarhat police stations reached the spot. The foresters promised compensation and other help to the victim’s family.

“The incident was unfortunate. The family will be given compensation according to the rules. We have asked villagers to be on alert,” said Rajib Dey, the additional divisional forest officer of the Gorumara wildlife division.

Cub rescued

A leopard cub was spotted in the Chilauni tea garden in Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district on Saturday. Foresters rescued the cub and asked estate workers to be on alert as the mother might be around.