A suspected man-eating leopard was shot dead in a late-night operation by the Forest Department and a rescue team Tuesday in Pune’s Shirur taluka following a massive public outrage over the deaths of three people, including two children, in the district.

The Forest Department said the male leopard aged above five years was shot dead after attempts were made to tranquillise it with a dart, but the animal turned aggressive and charged at the team.

A Forest Department official said three deaths occurred due to leopard attacks in the Pimparkhed village and Jambut areas of Shirur taluka within the past 20 days. Shivanya Shailesh Bombe, 5, was killed by the big cat on October 12, Bhagubai Ranganath Jadhav, 70, died on October 22, and Rohan Vilas Bombe, 13, also lost his life on November 2.

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