Citizens urge authorities to intensify search for leopard

Hubballi: Citizens and elected representatives vented ire against the district administration for not trapping the leopard that was sighted on the premises of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1. They said if the forest officials failed in catching the leopard, they would launch an operation by citizens to trace the big cat.
Taking part in the public meeting organised as a measure of confidence building among people at the KV, corporator Veeranna Shalavadi said that administration had taken it seriously only after sighting the leopard at KV premises.“Staff engaged in search operation are not given any modern weapons. Nrupatunga Betta is not a big forest but just an area of 50 acres with bushes. The administration should call experts from Mysuru and Chamaraj Nagar districts to trap the leopard at the earliest. It looks like forest officials are thinking of pushing the leopard to other areas but it’s a not permanent solution” he added. At this point, he lost his temper and said that people have already reached the height of patience and if they plunge onto the streets, things will go out of control.
Siddu Mogalishettar, a regular morning walker at the Betta, alleged that search operation has been intensified only from Monday. “Many senior citizens and women have fallen ill due to the fear of the leopard and many more are suffering mental trauma,” he said.
Another citizen Vishwanath complained that no patrolling is being done in the populated areas around Nrupatunga Betta. “If the district administration is running short of earth-movers for combing operations, we are ready to get them from contractors,” he said.
Sunil Nittur, a resident of Shiradi Nagar pointed that the district administration has suspended offline classes of KV alone and not other schools. “The cages, set by the forest officials, are filled with lizards and how can you expect the arrival of leopard there? If this is the pace of the operation, it will not be concluded even after months. Given an opportunity, we will dare trap the leopard and the forest personnel can follow us,” he challenged.
Responding to public worries, deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil said that the leopard will be trapped in 2-3 days. “We have learnt that a scrapped building on the KV premises may turn a safe heaven for leopard or any animal. So, we have ordered immediate demolition of the same. More forest personnel will be brought from neighbouring districts. Experts have already joined in the operation. We have taken feedback and suggestions from residents and elected representatives. Forest officials are camping 24x7 at the KV till the leopard is captured,” he added.
Manjunath Chavan, chief conservator of forests, Dharwad Circle, Yashpal Kshirasagar, deputy conservator of forests, HDMC commissioner Suresh Itnal, DCP Ramarajan K and other officials were present in the meeting.
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Though there was no permission from KV Commissioner in Delhi, Dharwad district administration started the demolition of abandoned building located at KV No.1 premises in Raj Nagar on Tuesday evening. DC Nitesh Patil said that considering the situation and in the safety interest of KV students and public of the area, the building is being demilished. “Meanwhile we have also suspended offline classes of 12 schools of surrounding areas util the leopard is trapped. We have instructed these schools to continue with online classes” he added.
Eom/21.9.21/by Sangamesh