Those who witnessed the terrifying encounter between Tegveer Singh Negi, an ex-soldier from Bhikkawala village in Bijnor and an adult man-eater leopard, described it as ‘a fight for life itself’. In a dramatic seven-minute bout, the 55-year-old ex-soldier bravely battled a leopard that attacked him while he was working in his field.
Despite being dragged by the wild animal, Tegveer fought back with sheer courage, using a stick and his bare hands. The conflict ended with the leopard’s death, but Tegveer was left critically injured.
‘Khoob lada apna Tegveer’
“Khoob lada apna Tegveer, aakhir tak ladta raha aur haar nahi maani (Our Tegveer fought the feline bravely, despite severe injuries, he continued to fight till the end),” said Surjan Singh, a local from Bhikkawala village and an eyewitness to the intense conflict, describing it as “a fight for life.”
Surjan recalled how Tegveer’s unwavering determination and courage in the face of a deadly leopard attack left everyone in awe. Despite his critical injuries, Tegveer battled fiercely until the leopard succumbed.
The hair-raising encounter
The hair-raising encounter unfolded late on Wednesday evening as Tegveer Negi, a 55-year-old ex-serviceman, was working in his field in Bhikkawala village, under Afzalgarh Police Station, Bijnor. An adult leopard, weighing between 90 and 120 kg, emerged from the nearby forest and launched a surprise attack on Negi from behind.
The powerful feline sank its canines deep into his throat and neck, locking him in a deadly grip. Despite the extreme pain and suddenness of the attack, Negi’s soldierly instincts kicked in and he refused to give up.
After an initial moment of shock, Negi retaliated fiercely with his bare hands and began to fight back, punching the animal’s face — its most vulnerable spot. Despite his own blood loss and the leopard’s relentless attempt to drag him into the bushes, Negi’s relentless blows continued, leaving the animal confused but determined to hold on to its prey.
“Amid the fierce struggle, while being pulled into the bushes, Negi grabbed a stick, which became his weapon. He used it to strike the leopard’s face and neck repeatedly, weakening the animal’s grip. With a final blow to the leopard’s neck, Negi brought the beast to the ground, dead,” the locals said.
However, during the intense conflict, Tegveer Negi sustained severe injuries. He was rushed to Kashipur Private Hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical. His body bore deep wounds from the leopard’s claws and teeth, with significant blood loss adding to his precarious state.
Upon receiving the information, a team from the forest department and local police arrived at the scene to take custody of the leopard’s carcass. However, the team had to face the anger from the villagers, who raised slogans and launched a strong protest against the forest department, expressing their frustration over the department’s failure to capture the leopards, which are reportedly present in significant numbers in the region, posing a constant threat.
GM Gangwar, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bijnor, stated that the leopard was approximately 4 to 5 years old.
Large Part of Bijnor Home to 500 Leopards
Tegveer’s village, Bhikkawala, is located in a leopard-infested region of Bijnor, which the forest department says, is home to around 500 leopards, including man-eaters that have been giving nightmarish experiences to the people in the area. Approximately 60,000 people living in the region are forced to stay indoors, as a leap of man-eating leopards has claimed 26 lives over the past year and a half.
Despite efforts by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, which has installed around 107 cages and captured 65 leopards while 36 have been killed in various incidents, the situation remains dire.
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