NUAPADA:Leopard scare has once again gripped Haldi village under Dumerpani gram panchayat of Nuapada block. While the killing of a four-year-child by a leopard in the village on May 26 is still fresh in the memory, pug marks of the big cat have been spotted in the locality.
Forest Range Officer of Khariar Road Basudev Adbong confirmed the presence of the big cat and said pug marks have been found near a water body in the village. He said efforts are underway to trap the animal and villagers, after the May 26 incident, are taking precautions.
Earlier on May 26, four-year-old Chhagan Lal Pandey was sleeping with his mother Ketki outside their house in the village. At about 2 am, Ketki woke up to find her son missing. After a frantic search the villagers found the mutilated head of the child in Haldi Reserve Forest at the break of dawn. Subsequently on July 9 night, the leopard struck the village again and injured an elderly woman and her grand-daughter before managing to escape.
Sources said the Forest Department officials have stepped up patrolling at night and are hoping for CCTV cameras to capture the image of the leopard before it is trapped.
Zilla Parishad member and resident of Haldi village Munnalal Jagat, who had traced the head of the four-year-old victim in the forest, said presence of the leopard has left the villagers panicked. The terrified villagers are spending sleepless nights, he added.