Leopard scare in Khaprakhol block

Bolangir: Panic gripped Khaprakhol block after a leopard strayed into human settlement at Baghajharan village in district on Friday leading to resentment among locals. This was the second time that the leopard from nearby Gandhamardhan hill was spotted close to the village.

Last week, the big cat had killed several cows, sheep and goats in the village.

Officials of forest department, on the other hand, blamed villagers for such incidents.

"As locals are setting fire to the forest near Gandhamardhan hill, the wild animals are straying into the village. We are creating awareness among people in this regard," said S. Kumar, a senior forest official.

According to reports, locals had spotted the leopard near a busy area, some 200 meters away from the hill in the village and later informed the forest department officials.

"The wild animal could not return as villagers had gathered around the spot. Only after a joint effort with forest officials, we managed to drive the animal back to the forest," said Kamal Lochan Behera, officer of Khaprakhol police station.