Panic gripped Guna Gocha Basti near the Tral Bus Stand on Monday night after locals spotted a leopard roaming through the area around 10:30 pm.
The sudden appearance of the wild animal sparked fear among locals, who have now issued an urgent appeal to the Wildlife Department and local administration for immediate intervention.
Locals told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. “Just a few days ago, a leopard was seen near a food store in Madina Colony, which is close to this locality. It’s now clear that the animal is frequently moving through our neighborhoods,” they said, adding that fear has intensified among children and the elderly.
The growing concern is backed by recent leopard-related incidents in nearby areas. Livestock has reportedly been killed in Panzo, Handora, and Wagad villages, and villagers are worried that the predator may soon pose a threat to human life.
“Last year, there were attacks on people in Gulshanpura and Rathsona. We don’t want to see that repeated,” said a group of worried locals.
Villagers have appealed to the Wildlife Department Tral to immediately dispatch a rescue team to the affected area and install cages or other non-lethal methods to safely capture the leopard. They also demanded that the authorities issue timely public advisories to prevent any tragic incident.
“This is a densely populated area, and the presence of a wild animal in our streets at night is a serious threat. We request officials to act before it’s too late,” said a local. [KNT]
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