The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family of Harshith Gowda, who tragically lost his life in a leopard attack in Nagamale in the Male Mahadeshvara Hills region of Chamarajanagar district. The incident occurred on Sunday. The Forest department has already provided a Rs 5 lakh cheque to the family, with the remaining amount to be directly deposited into their account.
Harshith Gowda, a resident of Vrushabhavathi Nagar in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, was on a foot pilgrimage with his family when the leopard attacked them near Indiganatha on Sunday morning. The boy was dragged away by the animal in front of his family members. The tragic incident unfolded near Indiganatha village in Hanur taluk, where forest officials later found the boy’s body in the forest.
Efforts to capture the leopard responsible for the attack have been intensified by the Forest Department. Four cages have been set up in the area, with over 30 forest personnel stationed at the spot. A thermal drone team is monitoring the leopard’s movements. As a precautionary measure, travel to Nagamale has been temporarily restricted for devotees.
R. Ashoka, a senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, criticized the state government for failing to ensure the safety of devotees visiting the Male Mahadeshwara Hills shrine. He highlighted a series of recent leopard attacks in the region, resulting in the deaths of two devotees. Ashoka questioned the government’s response, labeling it as an administrative failure and gross negligence.
