IDUKKI: The forest department has said that a leopard was hacked to death by a youth in self-defence. Gopalan, a resident of Chingamkudi Colony, killed the tiger with a billhook. The incident took place today morning in Mankulam. The leopard had killed two goats and attacked Gopalan.

Gopalan was on his way to his brother's house in the morning when he was attacked. He said that the leopard was lying on the road. 'It had killed two goats and hens. It jumped onto me as I walked and attacked me. It got injured when I slashed it with the billhook I had with me.', said Gopalan. He was injured in the attack and has been admitted to the taluk hospital.

The Forest department informed that there is no need to file a case as the leopard was killed in self-defence.Minister for Forests AK Saseendran said that case will not be filed against Gopalan. There has been a presence of leopard in the Mankulam region for the past one month. The forest department had set up a cage to catch the leopard, but the animal did not enter it.