Leopard claims another life in Nuapada despite vigil by ‘alert’ forest officials

The man-eater leopard which is on the prowl in Nuapada made another kill in the district on Friday, this time a woman at Siliaribahara village under Dharambandha section of Sadar forest range.

The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Rameswari Bai from Siliaribahara village.

As per reports, Bai went out to attend nature’s call on Friday evening, but never returned. After searching her for the whole night, villagers found her body in the jungle. Some locals even claimed to have seen the leopard eating the woman’s body on the spot.

Forest department officials reached the spot after receiving information about the death. However, the body could not be recovered yet.

Recently, a leopard had reportedly killed a minor boy and a cow in a span of two days at Katingpani Godhaspada village under Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada.

The wild animal killed an eight-year-old child at Katingpani Godhaspada village on October 30 and dragged a cow from the same village early on October 31 morning.

Following such incidents, the villagers reportedly are living in jitters. The residents fear to venture out to their farmlands. They are keeping guard of their children in the village.

Following the deaths of a minor boy and the cow, the forest department had deployed a special squad in the sanctuary and surrounding areas to keep a close watch on the big cat on the prowl. However, the killing of another human by the leopard has raised a serious question mark on the alertness of the department.