Man-eater leopard shot dead in Budgam

Budgam, Apr 2:  Authorities carried out a successful operation to neutralise the ‘man-eater leopard’ in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday.

It was the same leopard that had mauled two minor girls to death in separate places of Budgam.

Officials said that after receiving directions from Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Akshay Labroo, the wildlife authorities laid traps and made all possible efforts to neutralise the animal.

“The wild animal had triggered panic in multiple villages after two minor girls were killed in the attacks in Samsan and Hariwani villages of the district. The Wildlife Department, after using its discretionary powers, issued an order to neutralise the animal. It was done in collaboration with the district administration and Police, who provided all the necessary help,” said an official from the Wildlife Department.

The officials said that a camp was set up along with traps to monitor the movements of the leopard and to neutralise it.

“All the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed and people also cooperated during the operation,” they said.

The officials also thanked people for their cooperation and said that the area's topography makes it suitable for leopards, and urged people to be watchful.

The Wildlife Department used a public address system to instruct people to continue taking precautions so that everyone’s safety was ensured.

They said that children should not be let out alone and that residential areas should be kept well-lit to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

Meanwhile, the locals heaved a sigh of relief after the man-eater leopard was neutralised.

They also thanked the administration and the Wildlife Department.