A group of residents from Solaye-Honda while speaking to reporters in Vapoi. Captured by : Uday Sawant
VALPOI
Alarmed over the repeated movement of a leopard in their village, residents in Solaye-Honda have threatened a protest if the forest department does not trap the leopard within two days.
The leopard has created panic in the village after it entered the same house twice on May 25 and June 20, with a CCTV camera capturing the leopard entering the house on both occasions.
The aggrieved locals led by local panchayat member Pratiksha Gawde marched to the forest department office in Valpoi on Monday and were upset when Forest Officer Deepak Tandel was not available to meet them.
Later speaking to media persons, the residents accused the forest department of failing to pay serious attention to the matter despite lodging a complaint nearly a month ago.
They have threatened to stage a protest at the forest department office in Valpoi if the leopard is not trapped within two days.
When contacted, forest officer Deepak Tandel said efforts would be made by the forest department to trap the leopard.
“A camera trap will be installed there and efforts will be made to trap the leopard in a cage. The forest department will not ignore the fears of the residents,” said Tandel.
