Wednesday, July 26 2006 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shimla: A two-year-old girl from a Himachal village was reportedly carried away and killed by a leopard, and state wildlife officials have now launched an operation to capture the wild beast.

Tanu and her mother Priyanka were in their house in Gagaidih village of Hamirpur district, some 180 km from here, late Monday when the young girl suddenly disappeared from their terrace.

Villagers searched the entire forest through the night and the mauled body of the girl was found early Tuesday with leopard teeth and claw marks on her neck and other parts of the body.

Villagers have been complaining for long of their livestock being killed by a leopard.

Wildlife officials here have now begun earnest efforts to capture the animal.

"We have installed a cage to capture the leopard," said Sanjay Sood, a wildlife official.

Leopards attacking humans is very rare in this hilly state and wildlife officials suspect that the big cat could be injured and this could have led to a desperate attack.

The state government has announced a relief of Rs.55,000 to the deceased girl's family.