How did the leopard die?

UPPER BAHERA (HOSHIARPUR): The death on Sunday of a leopard near Dholbaha jungle, which was ascribed to crop fencing by forest officials, does not appear to be true as spot checking by TOI revealed that there is no fencing around the area.With the incidence ofanother leopard dying at the spot, which is 3 km from the previous site where aleopard was trapped to death on December 14, the working of wildlife officialshas also come under the scanner. The spot, about 45 km from Hoshiarpur, whichwas visited by TOI on Tuesday, is on the fringesof the forest on the right bankof the upstream-rivulet, also used as a thoroughfare for vehicles plying betweenthis part of Punjab and Himachal. While combing the area, no cultivable fieldsor fencing was found. Forest guard Jaswinder, whose duty was reportedly toremain at the site, though accepting that he was away on Sunday, could notexplain where the nearby fenced cultivable fields were and remained mum abouthow the leopard died. Hoshiarpur DFO (wildlife) Satnam Singh thoughaverred to have visited the site, but could not provide details about theleopard?s crop-fencing death theory to TOI when it was pointed out that the areawas devoid of any such fenced fields. On being asked who provided informationabout the leopard?s death, the DFO feigned ignorance stating that theinformation was provided to the range officer and the latter could not becontacted.