Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court orders arrest of leopard-killers

Saturday, 23 June 2018 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered to arrest the individuals involved in the slaughtering of a leopard which attacked villagers.

“Kilinochchi Police had filed a report on the issue to the Magistrate’s Court. The Magistrate’s Court then ordered a complete probe into the killing of the leopard in Kilinochchi and to arrest those responsible,” Police Spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara told Daily FT.

The issue was brought to notice when a celebratory video of the killers parading the dead animal went viral on social media yesterday only hours after the deed. Villagers in Kilinochchi on Thursday captured and killed a leopard after it attacked 10 people in the area. It is currently not clear if the Wildlife officials who were at the scene were forced out of the area or retreated after three of them were attacked by the wild animal when they attempted to tranquilise it.

Some of the graphic content being shared on social media showed the animal being attacked and killed. However, these videos have been removed after the backlash by animal rights activists who demanded action be taken against the culprits.