Valparai: Tragedy struck Valparai on Monday evening when an eight-year-old boy, Noorin Islam, was killed in a leopard attack, sparking outrage and protests among local residents.

According to media reports, the attack took place around 7:00 PM while Noorin, the son of Assamese migrant workers, was standing outside his home. Without warning, a leopard pounced on the child and dragged him into nearby vegetation. Family members and neighbours immediately began searching the area, and after an exhaustive effort, they found his body some distance from the house.

This is the second fatal big cat incident to shake the region in just two weeks. Earlier, a four-year-old girl was also killed in a similar fashion.

The Valparai region, surrounded by forest and tea plantations, has long struggled with human–wildlife conflict.