PAMPORE: Presence of a leopard has created panic among residents of Pamporeand an elderly resident of Khankahbagh area was mauled.
Locals informed that a leopard has been roaming in the area for past couple of weeks.
“In a video captured in CCTV camera, the leopard was seen roaming on a road near EDI complex,” a local said, adding that in another video the leopard was seen killing a dog in premises of EDI.
He added that on Monday, a resident of Khankahbagh , Abdul Gani Bhat (65) was attacked by the leopard and was grievously injured.
“I was moving out of the Mosque when some beast jumped on me. My chin and earlobes were injured,” Bhat told Kashmir Reader.
The injured was shifted to SDH Pampore from where he was referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar for further medical facilities. He was discharged after receiving five stitches for chin injury.
Officials from wildlife department launched an operation in the area to catch the leopard.
A team of wildlife experts visited the spot on Tuesday and cordoned off the premises of JKPCC Pampore and launched a search for the leopard and also visited the family of injured Abdul Gani in Khankahbagh area.
Range officer KhrewSajjid Farooq told Kashmir Reader that they have inputs about the presence of a leopard in the area since 14 January.
“We have been regularly scanning the presence of leopard in the area where our men are on patrol,” he said, adding locals informed them that they suspect the leopard hiding in a brickkiln JKPCC Pampore.
“A Cage trap has been laid near the kiln JKPCC to catch the leopard,” he said.
He also advised locals to avoid travelling through the area early in the morning and late hours till the animal is trapped.

BILAL HABIB