Bengaluru, May 11 -- The final rites of eight-year-old Harshith Gowda, who was killed in a leopard attack during a pilgrimage, were performed in Bengaluru on Monday, may 11, The incident has sparked outrage among devotees and residents, with serious allegations of negligence being levelled against the forest department.

Harshith had visited the famous hill shrine with his mother and family members. While the family was proceeding on foot along the forest pathway, a leopard reportedly attacked the child suddenly and dragged him away before the family could rescue him. Witnesses said the terrified mother screamed for help, but the animal disappeared into the dense forest within moments.

The boy's body was later recovered from the forest a...