Rajganj, 14th July: Panic has spread across Sakira Jote in Rajganj after repeated sightings of a leopard and suspected attacks on livestock. In response, the Forest Department has installed a trap inside a tea garden to capture the animal and prevent further incidents.
According to residents, the leopard has been roaming the area for the past few days, leaving villagers fearful of venturing outdoors. The situation worsened on Monday after the carcass of a cow was found inside a tea garden, with preliminary indications suggesting it was killed in a leopard attack.
Local resident Sagar Roy said the leopard had attempted to attack a calf last week while he was returning home with his cattle. The calf sustained minor injuries in the incident creating widespread panic in the locality. He added that parents are now worried about the safety of their children, with many hesitant to send them to school.
Following complaints from residents, personnel from the Ambari Range of the Forest Department, along with Rajganj Police Station, have been carrying out regular patrols in the area. However, fears intensified after Monday’s suspected leopard attack on the cow.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Forest Department installed a trap inside the tea garden on Tuesday. Officials are also conducting awareness campaigns through loudspeakers, urging residents to avoid entering nearby forest and tea garden areas unless absolutely necessary.
Beat Officer Bhupendranath Shil said the department has been monitoring the area since the first reported incident. He confirmed that the dead cow recovered from the tea garden was likely the victim of a leopard attack. He added that the trap has been installed to monitor the animal’s movement closely and ensure all necessary measures are taken to safeguard residents.