Lakhimpur, UP – June 25, 2025: In a jaw-dropping display of courage, a 42-year-old brick kiln worker in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, fought a wild leopard with his bare hands for nearly 15 minutes on Tuesday afternoon. The man, identified as Mihilal, fearlessly engaged the big cat to protect his fellow villagers—and miraculously survived.
The shocking incident took place near the chimney of a local brick kiln in Jugnoopur village, under the Dhaurhara forest range. A viral video shows Mihilal grabbing the leopard by its jaws, pinning it to the ground, and punching it repeatedly to fend off the attack.
A Fight Between Man and Beast
Around 1 PM, a leopard suddenly emerged from the nearby fields and attacked Mihilal while he inspected plants near the brick kiln with other laborers. As the others panicked and ran, Mihilal stood firm and faced the beast.
“It first bit my right hand. But I didn’t let go. I grabbed its mouth tightly and held it down. Our fight went on for 15-20 minutes,” said Mihilal from his hospital bed.
Eyewitnesses say Mihilal tackled the leopard onto a heap of bricks, straddled it, and began punching it non-stop. Other villagers threw stones and bricks at the animal, forcing it to flee back into the fields.
Forest Team Also Attacked
Shortly after the attack, a forest department team led by Range Officer Nripendra Chaturvedi arrived on the scene. The leopard, hiding in a banana plantation, attacked the team as they moved forward with nets and tranquilizer guns.
The attack injured Forest Officer Rajesh Kumar Dixit, Ranger Chaturvedi himself, PRV constable Ram Sajeevan, and a local villager named Iqbal Khan. Emergency responders took Mihilal and the four injured to a nearby community health center and later referred them to Lakhimpur District Hospital for advanced care
Forest officials finally tranquilized and captured the leopard two and a half hours later. According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Saurish Sahay, the leopard is a 3-year-old male with minor scratches on its body. He has been sent for rehabilitation under the supervision of wildlife experts from Lucknow.
Political Reactions and Warnings
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav reacted strongly on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
The government must provide the injured laborer with the best possible treatment. Because the BJP has failed to protect our forests and allowed unchecked encroachments, wild animals are invading human settlements. We must save forests to ensure humanity’s survival.
Community in Shock as Tragedy Strikes Twice
This leopard incident came just 24 hours after another tragic wildlife attack in the same district. On Monday, a tiger brutally mauled 12-year-old Pradeep Kumar Gautam while he was collecting fodder with his uncle in Kukra village, under the Gola Gokarannath police limits.
Consequently, his family rushed him to three hospitals—CHC Bankeganj, Lakhimpur Trauma Center, and finally Lucknow Medical College. However, they allege that medical negligence led to his death. According to them, the ambulance staff provided only oxygen, and doctors reportedly ignored him upon arrival.
Meet the Hero: Mihilal
Mihilal lives with his wife Pushpa and five children: Sanjay (17), Rinki (15), Pinki (12), Gauri (10), and Shivani (8). Despite sustaining deep claw wounds, he says he has no regrets.
“I didn’t think about dying. I just wanted to protect others,” Mihilal said with pride.
Authorities Urge Caution
The forest department has advised villagers to avoid wandering alone near forest edges. With increasing animal-human conflict incidents, officials have ramped up monitoring in sensitive zones around Lakhimpur.
“We urge people not to provoke wild animals and report any sightings immediately,” said Range Officer Chaturvedi.
Conclusion
The leopard has now been safely captured, and monitoring efforts are still underway. Meanwhile, Mihilal’s brave act has rightfully turned him into a local hero. In fact, his story is not just a tale of survival; rather, it serves as a powerful reminder of the escalating man-animal conflict. Moreover, this growing tension stems largely from deforestation and the rapid shrinking of wildlife habitats.
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