Naveed ul Haq
Budgam, Apr 2: Residents in Khansahib, who had been living in fear for 21 days, breathed a sigh of relief after a man-eating leopard that killed two minor girls was shot dead on Tuesday in the Hariwani village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
An official said that the man-eating leopard responsible for the deaths of two minors in the past 20 days was killed on Tuesday afternoon during a large-scale search operation, with support from the locals.
He said that after intense efforts by wildlife officials, police and the revenue department, the man-eating leopard was successfully killed between Hariwan and Samsan village. The leopard had also injured a minor boy during an attack near his house.
Following the attacks by the wild animal, the wildlife department issued shoot-at-sight orders to kill the leopard as residents had been living in constant fear. They now breathed a sigh of relief after the animal was killed.
“Finally, our children can play outside and go to school at least. It’s a relief beyond words. We can sleep peacefully now, but the fear is not completely gone yet,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Samsan.
“We urge the authorities to capture any remaining leopards to make our lives easier. There are not just one, but several leopards that have been spotted in the area on several occasions, which is why the fear continues to exist,” said another resident, Iqbal Ahmad.
Meanwhile, the wildlife department appreciated the collaborative efforts that led to the successful elimination of the man-eating leopard. It thanked everyone who assisted in the operation, including the police.
However, they cautioned people to remain vigilant and watch out for children, as there is a possibility that more leopards may be in the area.
They assured the public that if any further sightings occur, the department is readily available and just a phone call away.
