Garhwal Post Bureau
PAURI, 4 Dec: Panic continues to grip residents of Pauri district as leopards and bears continue to terrorise the region. On Thursday morning, a leopard fatally attacked a man in Gazalt village under Pauri development block, leaving the victim dead on the spot. Outraged by the incident, villagers accused the Forest Department of negligence and confined a forest official in a room as a hostage and as a mark of protest.
The villagers are demanding immediate sanction to shoot the leopard, citing repeated attacks and the urgent need to safeguard human lives. They state that leopard activity has been escalating in the area for a long time and despite several complaints, the forest department has failed to take decisive action. They asserted that had timely measures been adopted, the tragedy could have been averted.
The rising frequency of such incidents has left locals living in fear in many villages across the district particularly where the leopard and the bear attacks have been reported. The leopard attacks and the sightings have made it difficult for them to step out of their homes after dusk. The villagers have warned that they will be compelled to launch a mass agitation if concrete steps are not taken without delay.
According to reports, forty-five-year-old Rajendra Nautiyal of Gazalt village had gone to the temple for his daily worship. While returning, he was ambushed by a leopard on the forest path. The sudden and ferocious attack proved fatal, with Rajendra succumbing to his injuries instantly. News of the incident spread rapidly, plunging the village into grief and panic. His family was shattered, the community was overwhelmed with sorrow, and fear engulfed the entire region.
Following the incident, the villagers expressed their outrage at the Forest Department, accusing the officials of negligence in addressing the growing menace. As a measure of protest, they detained Forest Department staff who came to the village after the attack, locking them inside a room of the community building. The villagers insisted that the staff would not be released until senior officers, including the Divisional Forest Officer, arrive in person and issue an order to shoot the leopard. They vowed to continue their protest until such action was taken.
The residents highlighted that the path where the leopard struck is regularly used by school children and college students, raising fears of further attacks. They demanded that the leopard be eliminated before the situation deteriorates further. Women and children, they said, are too frightened to leave their homes, and even venturing into isolated areas during the day has become perilous.
In view of the mounting tension, Ranger Dinesh Nautiyal reached the spot and attempted to pacify the agitated crowd. He assured villagers that a cage would be placed near the site of the attack and trap cameras would be installed to monitor leopard movement. He further informed that a letter has already been sent to higher authorities seeking permission to shoot the leopard.
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