A leopard has injured seven villagers, including two minors, in northern India.

The incident took place in Bhawaria village of the state, when villagers saw the big cat roaming in nearby fields, and tried to scare it away.

The locals chased the leopard to a field and set the grass on fire to smoke out the animal.

The leopard came out of the burning field and attacked the gathered people, and ran and hid in the nearby woods.

Forest officials and police personnel have been scouting the area to capture the animal. The officials have said the leopard came from a nearby forest reserve.

Scared villagers armed with sticks and other weapons have been patrolling the outskirts of the area where the leopard was last seen.