ARSIKERE: Residents of Arsikere have seen elephants forayed into residential areas in search of food, but on Wednesday the villagers got a rude shock when they found a leopard in the storeroom of the mutton market.
The leopard is said to have come into the town at night in search of food and entered a storeroom, which is used to chop and keep the meat of sheep, goat and other animals.
“The storeroom is not usually locked as nothing valuable is kept there. I got up in the morning and went to clean the room as I normally do, but was shocked to find the leopard there. I came out immediately and locked the room,” said Sardar, outside whose house the storeroom is located.
Police and a veterinary doctor rushed to the spot after being informed about the incident. By that time, a huge crowd had also gathered in front of the storeroom, to catch a glimpse of the leopard.
The animal tried to pounce on the villagers when it came out of the room, but was overpowered by the officials.
Veterinary doctor Nagesh then tranquilised the animal. The big cat was later taken by forestry officials and DySp Jinendra Kanagavi to the Nagapuri forest area, where it was released, according to sources.