Manchar, 3rd November 2025: A 13-year-old schoolboy, Rohan Vilas Bombe, was killed in a leopard attack in Pimparkhed (Shirur taluka) on the evening of Sunday, November 2, triggering an angry and sustained protest by villagers and local political activists.
On Monday at 10 am, residents and all-party activists began an indefinite road blockade at Nandi Chowk near Tambdemala–Bhorwadi (Ambegaon taluka) on the Pune–Nashik National Highway, demanding that the man-eating leopard responsible for the killings be captured or killed and that the area be cleared of big cats. Protesters have said the blockade will continue until District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik arrive at the site.
Sachin Bombe, a member of Rohan’s family, said the community’s anger stems from a string of recent attacks. “In the last twenty days three innocent people — Shivanya Shailesh Bombe, about five-and-a-half years old; Bhagubai Rangnath Jadhav, 70; and Rohan — have been killed in leopard attacks,” he said. “We keep hearing promises from the forest department, MPs and MLAs, but no action is taken. That is why people are angry.” He appealed for the protest to remain non-political.
Relatives and local leaders — including Rohan’s mother Madhuri Bombe, Kalyani Bombe, Prafulla Bombe, MP Dr. Amol Kolhe and several other activists — addressed the crowd during the protest. A large turnout included Balasaheb Bende, Rajendra Gawde, Arun Gire and others, according to witnesses.
Traffic was badly affected: there were reported queues of vehicles stretching about three kilometres on both sides of the highway, with protesters sitting under the sun as temperatures rose. A significant police presence was deployed at the scene, including SDO Govind Shinde and Shirur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Prashant Dhole; Khed Sub-Divisional Police Officer Amol Mandve was also present, officials said.
Protesters said they will sustain the blockade until senior district and state officials visit the site and commit to definitive action to remove the animal and prevent further attacks. The forest department and district authorities were not immediately available for comment.
Locals have raised concerns about rising incidents of human–wildlife conflict in the area. Protesters and families say they want permanent measures to make the locality safe, including prompt capture or killing of any confirmed man-eating animal and stronger preventive measures to protect villagers.
Three sharpshooters have been deployed to kill the leopard.
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