A leopard entered a liquor shop in Rajasthan and attacked salesman Sanjay Gurjar, injuring his face, chest and both shoulders before he escaped. Gurjar closed the shop’s shutters to trap the animal inside; forest teams later tranquilized and removed the leopard. The incident, caught on a security camera and shared by CNN, has renewed concerns about rising human-leopard encounters. Experts urge vigilance and recommend standing ground and making noise rather than running if confronted.
Leopard Storms Into Rajasthan Liquor Store — Salesman Injured, Traps Big Cat Inside
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A routine morning at a Rajasthan liquor store turned into a desperate fight for survival when a leopard followed a salesman inside and suddenly attacked, according to security-camera footage shared online.
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What Happened
Security footage released by CNN on Instagram shows salesman Sanjay Gurjar arriving to clean the shop and complete the day’s accounts, with a leopard trailing him. Moments later the big cat leapt over the counter and lunged at the unsuspecting employee in the cramped store. Gurjar suffered claw and bite wounds to his face, chest and both shoulders but managed to break free and flee the shop.
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As he rushed outside, Gurjar pulled down the shop's metal shutters, trapping the leopard inside and likely preventing it from reaching the street and endangering neighbours. Forest rescue teams later arrived, tranquilized the animal and removed it safely from the premises. Gurjar received medical treatment and is reported to be recovering well.
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Reactions And Wider Context
"Wow, talk about a wild workday! Major props to that shopkeeper for staying so calm under pressure."
"Glad the guy will be ok. That being said, kinda the coolest story ever now."
The viral clip has renewed concerns about human-wildlife encounters in regions where communities overlap with leopard habitat. Authorities say they are increasing monitoring and outreach in areas with recent sightings.
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Other Recent Incidents
The liquor-store attack comes amid other troubling encounters. The Indian Express reported that a five-year-old girl was killed by a leopard near Pune's Shirur taluka after being taken while she slept beside her family by a cattle shed. In July 2024, two men at South Africa’s Hoedspruit Air Force Base — near the edge of Kruger National Park — were injured by a leopard; both recovered and the animal was later captured and relocated, the BBC reported.
Safety Advice From Experts
Leopards usually avoid people, but injured animals or mothers with cubs can be more aggressive. Experts advise:
- Do not approach a leopard; keep a safe distance and secure children in areas where leopards are known to roam.
- If a leopard charges, stand your ground, shout, clap and wave your arms to appear larger.
- Do not run — sudden flight can trigger a chase; instead, retreat slowly if the animal disengages.
Sanjay Gurjar’s quick thinking — escaping immediate danger and closing the shutters — likely prevented a wider hazard to neighbours. As human settlement expands into wildlife ranges, officials stress better monitoring, public education and adherence to safety guidance to reduce the risk of future attacks.
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