Another woman mauled to death by leopard in Almora

Sheila Bisht (38) had gone to the fields to cut grass when the predator crept out of nearby jungles and pounced on her, they said.

The woman died on the spot. Angry villagers initially refused to hand over the body to the police and relented only after being assured by forest officials that the leopard will be shot.

A 56-year-old woman was mauled to death by a leopard in Malli Chauneli village of the district on October 16.

Fear-stricken residents of the villages in the area are demanding that they be allowed to kill the big cats in self defence.