Nuapada: A day after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in Haldi village under Sadar police limits in this district, a biker escaped death by a whisker when the animal attacked him Saturday night, a report said.
Bhukhanlal Dandasena of Pawartala village was on his way home on a bike from Khariar Road when the leopard tried to leap at him near Haldi at 8 pm Saturday. However, the animal was unsuccessful as Danadasena sped away.
After reports surfaced, residents of Haldi and nearby villages were left panicked and stayed awake all through the night apprehending that the animal might attack them anytime. An overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety gripped the villagers as they noticed some body parts of the minor boy Chhaganlal Pandey near the forest on the outskirts of the village.
An eerie silence prevailed in the village Sunday in the wake of the two incidents with the inhabitants preferring to stay indoors. The residents had no visitors from nearby villages apparently due to fear of the carnivore. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Gadhadhar Patra accompanied by forest officials visited Hadli and met the deceased boy’s grandmother Jogni Bai Sunday.
Bai, with tears rolling down her cheeks, said the animal has turned her family childless. She demanded financial assistance and urged the authorities to do whatever possible to curb the menace. The DFO advised the villagers to remain cautious even in the day and remain indoors after sundown. The villagers were asked not to take their livestock for grazing to the jungle.
If it’s required to venture out, the villagers may move in groups, the DFO advised the residents. Patra said two experienced forest officials will be deployed in the village to keep a watch on the leopards’ movement while the villagers will be sensitised through public address system to become aware of the animal. PNN
