Leopard that killed five-year-old girl in Chikkamagaluru, shot dead by Forest Department
Chikkamagaluru: A leopard believed to have killed a five-year-old girl and injured an 11-year-old boy in Tarikere was found dead on Saturday after sustaining a bullet wound during a Forest Department operation to capture it.
Forest officials said the animal was shot in self-defence when it suddenly charged at a staff member who was attempting to tranquilise it near Byrapura village. The leopard had been the focus of an intensive search after two attacks in the region earlier this week. The five-year-old victim, Saanvi, was killed while playing outside her home in Navilukallugudda village near Mundre. On Friday, an 11-year-old boy, Hruday from Byrapura, sustained serious injuries in a separate attack.
Residents of Shivapura, Nandi, Kenchapura, Kenchapura Gate and Byrapura had urged authorities to capture the animal, citing widespread fear. Following approval from senior officials, the Forest Department launched an operation on Friday night after receiving information that the leopard had been sighted near the Byrapura road.
On Saturday, a large team comprising veterinarians from Mangaluru, Bandipur, Bannerghatta, Shivamogga and Tyavarekoppa zoos, a leopard task force from Mysuru, an elephant squad from Chikkamagaluru and three elephants from Sakrebail in Shivamogga joined the operation. The group tracked the leopard to dense bushes near Byrapura.
Veterinarian Dr. Yashaswi and his assistant, accompanied by two armed forest staff, moved in to tranquilise the animal. Officials said the leopard suddenly leapt at one of the staff members, prompting him to fire in self-defence. The injured leopard escaped into the thicket.
The search continued, and the team later found the leopard dead with a bullet wound. The carcass was seized for legal formalities. Local residents expressed relief following confirmation of the animal’s death.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
