The leopard attacked five men from behind when they were returning after rehearsing a play at Kachogoral under Jorhat police station, Jorhat Divisional Forest Officer Sarat Saikia said.
Angered by the attack, local people beat the female leopard to death, he said.
The five persons were injured on their back, stomach, shoulder, and thigh, said doctors of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital where they were admitted.
The leopard was suspected to have come out from nearby Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in search of her lost cub missing for the last few days, Saikia said.