Panic grips Budgam’s Samsan village after twin leopard attack incidents

B’gam: Panic has gripped the entire Samsan village in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district after two recent leopard attack incidents have occurred in the vicinity within a week.
The locals however urged the administration to capture the leopard and ensure their safety.
The first attack occurred last Monday in which a minor girl was killed while a minor boy was injured in the second attack that took place just a week later in the same village.
BO wildlife department Budgam said that the department has been active in the village since the first incident, intensifying search operations and increasing manpower to catch the leopard.
“The efforts are on to catch the leopard. The dense bushes and Karewas in the area provide hiding spots for the leopard, but we are vigilant,” he said.
Officials have advised residents to stay indoors, especially during morning and evening hours, to avoid further attacks until the leopard is captured.
The rise in human-animal conflicts has heightened fear among the villagers, prompting urgent appeals for action from the administration.
“The recent leopard attacks have left us trembling with fear. We can’t even step out of our homes without worrying about the safety of our children. It’s a nightmare that we never imagined facing in our own village.” said Javed, a resident of Samsan village, whose son was injured in the attack.
“We demand immediate action from the authorities to catch this leopard before it claims more innocent lives,” Mehmooda, another concerned villager said.