Leopard Sparks Panic at HRI Campus: Forest Team Launches Trap Operation Amid Fears of Attacks in Surrounding Villages In Prayagraj
There has been no headway in caging a leopard that was spotted hanging around the HRI Institute in Prayagraja a couple of days ago.
Perhaps the predator has returned to the wild, but a wave of fear rippled across the Harishchandra Research Institute (HRI) campus on Friday when a leopard intruded into its 50-acre wooded premises, reigniting concerns among residents and nearby villages that have been troubled by the big cat over the past two months.
According to eyewitness accounts, campus guards on night duty spotted the animal from a watchtower near the boundary wall.
Dogs in the vicinity barked fiercely, prompting guards to sweep the area with torches — only to see the leopard slinking into dense foliage the moment it was disturbed.
The guards immediately alerted the Forest Department, and all campus residents were warned to stay vigilant.
Forest Ranger Laxmikant Dubey (Phulpur) confirmed that a full-scale search and capture operation is underway.
Cage traps have been placed at strategic locations inside the HRI forest, with forest personnel combing through possible hiding spots.
Although the leopard was not sighted again in the morning, officials believe its movement is now restricted, which increases the likelihood of trapping it.
The animal has been sowing fear for weeks in the Bahadurpur block, where over a dozen villages — including Kotwa Kachhar, Lilapur, Dhokri, Sudnipur Kala, and Jamunipur — have reported repeated sightings. In those areas, it is suspected of having attacked two people and inflicted damage on livestock and domestic animals.
Local reports claim that on one night, the leopard even snatched and partially consumed a dog near the periphery of the HRI forest, further unsettling residents. Some say they have noticed its paw prints and droppings around waterholes and undergrowth.
Sources from HRI say that the campus, which houses researchers, staff quarters, and residential blocks, is now under heightened security measures.
Night patrols have been intensified, and lights have been installed in vulnerable zones. Many residents have been instructed not to venture out after dusk.
The forest department has also launched a public awareness drive in adjoining villages, urging people to avoid confrontations with the animal, secure their livestock at night, and report fresh sightings immediately.
Mobile alerts and hotline numbers have been activated for rapid response.
While no further attacks have been confirmed since the HRI incident, authorities warn that the leopard is extremely elusive and dangerous when cornered.
They caution residents in nearby zones to remain indoors after dark and keep pets and poultry under safe shelter.
As of now, the identity — exact age, sex, or health condition — of the leopard remains unknown. The operation to safely capture it continues.
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