Prayagraj: Signs of a leopard's presence for the past two days at the HRI campus in Jhunsi, adjacent to Prayagraj city, have caused a stir. Residents in the settlements of Jhunsi are living under the shadow of fear. The Forest Department has decided to install cameras in the forest area to gather concrete evidence of the leopard's activity.
The HRI campus spans approximately 200 hectares, encompassing residential, office, and academic buildings, in addition to a large forested area. While CCTV cameras are already installed around the buildings, there was no surveillance system towards the forest.
Officials from the Forest Department state that until the leopard's presence is confirmed, it is not possible to call in an expert team. Therefore, installing surveillance cameras in the forest is the first necessary step. The objective of this measure is to identify the leopard's routes of movement, its numbers, and its resting places.
Forest Department (DFO) Arvind Kumar stated that while cages have been installed as a precautionary measure upon receiving information, it is not sufficient. The goal is to ensure the leopard cannot hide anywhere and its identity can be established with the help of cameras.
Forest Department's Responses and Challenges
The department is searching for paw prints and investigating the forest and surrounding areas.
Cages and nets have been set up, but the leopard is not getting caught in those locations.
Inspectors state that the leopard disappears after being sighted, making it difficult to trace its location.
Citizens' Reactions and Fear
People in Jhunsi and its surrounding areas are living in fear, especially avoiding going out at night.
In some incidents, the leopard has also intimidated people — for instance, a person in Jamunipur Belwar recounted that he shouted upon seeing the leopard in the flashlight's beam, causing his wife to faint.
Villagers allege that the Forest Department's response has been slow and adequate safety measures have not been implemented.
