CM fetes kids who fought leopards

Lucknow: At a state-level event marking International Forest Day, chief minister Yogi Adityanath honoured children who displayed exceptional bravery during wildlife encounters. The event, ‘Aranya Samagam', was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, on Saturday.Praising courage of children who survived leopard attacks, Yogi described them as "inspirational figures for society". Achhelal (10) from Bahraich and Tanu Singh (18) from Prayagraj displayed remarkable presence of mind during life-threatening encounters with leopards. Achhelal was attacked by leopard on Dec 6, 2025, while returning home with his father on a bicycle. When the animal emerged from a sugarcane field and attacked him, the child fought back and managed to escape.On Jan 8, a leopard entered a house in Chhivaiya village in Jhunsi area of Prayagraj. Tanu Singh, ensured safe evacuation of two younger children and locked the leopard inside the room. He awarded commendation certificates to deputy ranger Pushpendra Singh (Moradabad division), forest guards Sunil Kumar Gond (Hamirpur) and Shivam Kumar (Rampur) and gardener Reena Sharma (Etah).Minister of state (independent) for forest, Arun Kumar Saxena and minister of state K P Malik were also present.