Leopard Intrusion at Lucknow Wedding Triggers Panic and Political Dispute

A leopard disrupted a wedding in Lucknow, injuring a forest official and sparking criticism of the state government over urban wildlife management.

A leopard entered a wedding venue in Lucknow late Wednesday night, causing chaos as guests fled and the bride and groom took shelter in a car.
The animal was tranquilized and captured after a nearly five-hour operation involving forest department officials and police, during which a forest officer was injured.
Videos of the incident, including one showing the leopard snatching a police officer's rifle, have gone viral on social media.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP-led state government, linking the incident to urban encroachment on wildlife habitats and alleging governance failures.
State BJP representatives dismissed Yadav's comments as irrelevant, emphasizing that such wildlife intrusions are not uncommon in urban areas.