Sujatha of Siddarthanagar, who saved her mother-in-law from the leopard, to be honoured with Kittur Rani Chennamma Bravery Award next year

Bengaluru: Minister for Women and Child Development Lakshmi Hebbalkar has lauded the courage and bravery of Sujatha, a resident of Siddarthanagar in Mysuru, who risked her life to save her aged mother-in-law from a leopard that had taken shelter under a cot inside their home on Friday. The Minister has also announced next year’s Kittur Rani Chennamma Bravery Award for Sujatha.

Stating that the incident was a powerful testament of bravery and the strong relationship of Sujatha with her mother-in-law, Minister Hebbalkar said that although the incident unfolded suddenly, it showed “exceptional courage and the sacred relationship between a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law.”

Sujatha, on learning that the leopard had taken shelter under the cot on which her aged mother-in-law was sleeping, she (Sujatha) risked her life, entered the room, hugged her mother-in-law tightly and brought her out of the room safely, the Minister said.

“Sujatha has become a role model for the entire State, wiping away old stereotypes about the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. To honour her exceptional bravery and courage, I have already instructed my Department to consider her name for next year’s Kittur Rani Chennamma Bravery Award,” the Minister said.

She expressed hope that Sujatha’s story would inspire every household in the State.

It may be recalled that the leopard had sneaked into the house of Suresh, a retired Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Engineer on Vinaya Marga in Siddarthanagar on Friday morning. 

Suresh lived with his wife Sujatha and his elderly mother Shailaja Rudrappa, who is bedridden due to age-related ailments. Shailaja was sleeping on the cot when the leopard took shelter under it.

A domestic help, who noticed the leopard lying under the cot, alerted Sujatha, who shut the room door from outside and informed the Forest Department, who later rescued the leopard.