Watch: Villageman fighting leopard

MHOW: Film stars taking on tigers and leopards on silver screen may not be new but seeing it happen in real life is a rare treat to eyes.A village watchman, Balram, has been captured on camera fighting a leopard that had strayed into the village, for 40 seconds, and scaring it away from human population into the nearby jungles on Monday evening.The incident happened in Olani village, about four kilometers from Manpur town in Mhow tehsil in Indore district. The video which was shot by a passerby shows that he has not only been raining sticks but only wrestling the animal.According to eyewitnesses, a full grown leopard entered into the village in early evening hours on Monday when people started raising alarm. The village watchman Balram rushed towards the animal, which in turn attacked him. Balram, who only had a stick to take on the beast, warded off the attacks of a ferocious animal when it repeatedly charged at him.At one point, the leopard had over-powered Balram and brought him to ground, but with the help of never-say-die spirit in him, he rose to his feet to challenge the leopard again. This time it was Balram, who proved mightier than the leopard, which turned and ran away head over heels.Mahendra Sharma, a school teacher of the area said many from the village had been witness to the valour of Balram with which he fought leopard, which had created panic in the area.“Even the armed forest officials seldom muster courage to fight a beast,” he said demanding suitable reward from the government for saving lives of people from the leopard. Mhow SDM Vijay Kumar Agrawal said he would discuss the issue with his seniors and take a step in this regard.