Cuttack: The residents of Sutahat area in Cuttack district are now spending sleepless nights after a 'mysterious animal' was spotted last week.
Local residents claimed that the body of the mysterious animal resembles a big cat with a large tail.
Though it is suspected that the mysterious animal could possibly be an Indian Palm Civet, the residents are a panicked lot reportedly after attacks on poultry animals.
The incident has brought back memories of the mysterious animal that was on a goat and sheep-killing spree in Niali area of the district last year.
"We have never seen such an animal as it is just a big cat with a long tail. We first spotted it near our locality on June 8 and though we tried to capture the animal, it escaped into a bushy area in the darkness," said Sumit Ram, a local resident.
Lokanath Kahali, another resident stated that though the animal so far has not attacked any person, it is certainly a matter of concern as most of the people in the locality are now in a state of fear.