Baramulla,17 August:- Fear and panic continue to grip Kanli Bagh, Friends Colony, Bilal Colony and PDD Colony areas of Baramulla town as a leopard has been roaming in the residential localities for nearly a month.

The prolonged presence of the leopard has created a sense of insecurity among residents. Families, particularly those with children and elderly members, are living in constant fear and are finding it difficult to move freely, especially during morning and evening hours when wildlife movement is more frequent.
Despite sustained search and trapping efforts by the Wildlife Department, the animal has so far evaded capture. Locals said several traps were laid, but the leopard continues to shift its location within the residential areas, making the operation challenging.
The delay in capturing the animal has drawn sharp criticism from residents, who have questioned whether the existing manpower and resources of the Wildlife Department are sufficient to handle such a prolonged operation. They have appealed to the authorities to strengthen the on-ground team by deploying additional trained personnel and modern equipment to intensify the search operation.
Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla is monitoring the situation and has directed the concerned authorities to intensify efforts to trace and safely capture the leopard. The administration has been asked to ensure close coordination among the Wildlife Department, Forest Department, Police and other concerned agencies till the operation is successfully completed.
Residents have also appealed to the District Administration, Baramulla to ensure adequate presence of field staff on the ground, issue regular safety advisories and keep the public informed about the progress of the operation.
Locals said normal life has been badly disrupted in Kanli Bagh and adjoining colonies. They urged the authorities to act swiftly to ensure the leopard is captured safely without any harm to residents or the wildlife, so that normalcy can be restored at the earliest.