Pune: Forest Department Launches Probe After Woman Found Dead on Farm in Daund
Pune, December 09, 2024: In a tragic incident, a 50-year-old woman, Latabai Baban Dhawade, was found dead on a sugarcane farm in Kadethan village, Daund tehsil, Pune district, on Saturday, December 8. The Pune Forest Department has launched an investigation to determine if her death resulted from a wild animal attack.
Latabai was reportedly working on the farm with her husband, cutting grass about 300-400 meters away from him when she was allegedly attacked by a wild animal. Villagers suspect a leopard attack, as leopards are known to frequent the area. They claimed she was dragged 100-125 meters into the sugarcane field.
Forest officials were informed immediately after the incident. Deepak Pawar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Pune Forest Department, visited the site and stated, “Based on information shared by villagers, we have launched a probe into wild animal attacks. Two cages and four trap cameras were installed in the area. We need more evidence to confirm if the death happened due to a leopard attack. We are awaiting the post-mortem report for confirmation.”
The rise in human-leopard interactions in Daund tehsil has created fear among villagers, who are now demanding stronger measures to address the conflict.
