A group of police and forest officials in India fought off a leopard as they attempted to capture the wildcat from northern Panipat city.
Police officer Jagjeet Singh and three members of the wildlife department were injured in the encounter, which took place in Behrampur village in Panipat, about 85 kilometres from the Indian capital Delhi on Saturday.
“It was a big cat. It suddenly attacked us when the vet tried to tranquillise it. We had no choice but to act in our defence. We fought it with our bare hands,” Mr Singh told The National.
“The leopard was also sitting quietly but as we approached with a tranquilliser, it pounced on the vet. I had never seen a leopard before,” he added.
Harrowing visuals captured on mobile phones show the moment police and other officials wrestling with their bare hands as the leopard pounces on them. One officer can be seen using the police baton.
The wildcat had strayed into the village at around 5pm, creating panic among locals who called police for help.
Mr Singh, who was patrolling the area, reached the spot with a team of police and saw the leopard hiding under a wall. He informed the forest department of the need to rescue the big cat while monitoring its movements, he said.
A crowd of locals gathered to witness the operation and police had cordoned off the area.
Three hours later the terrified leopard was captured after being tranquillised.
Mr Singh and the forest officers sustained injuries during the encounter and are undergoing treatment. The leopard was later released in a nearby forest reserve.
India has a large leopard population, with more than 12,800 of the wildcats living in the country, according to a government report in 2021.
The population of leopards are more in the hilly states because of dense forest. Of late, the wildcats have been venturing into the plains and in human habitats in search for food ensuing human-leopard conflicts.
Last year, 310 leopard deaths were reported in the country. About 100 of them were killed by poaching, while others were killed in road accidents, or by electrocution or gunshots.
More than 100 people in India have been killed in tiger attacks in the past three years, junior environment minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey told India's parliament in April. He said 108 people were killed in encounters with tigers between 2019 and last year.
Tigers in India — in pictures
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SPECS
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