Day 9: Leopard scare continues at Qadiyan

LUDHIANA: Forest officials and residents of Qadiyan village have good reason to be jittery. The thought of a leopard on the prowl is not a very calming one. The big cat escaped from a well nine days ago. Residents spotted it near the forest in Qadiyan on Monday night but it vanished as soon as it had appeared.
Sources said the village resident who spotted the animal informed forest officials but it was not of much use because it slipped away by the time officials arrived.On Tuesday morning, a team of forest officials led by divisional forest officer Daljeet Singh searched the Qadiyan forests till evening. Forest officials had also asked village residents to be alert but avoid venturing into the forest area till the leopard was caught.
Fear of a leopard attack looms large over villagers of Qadiyaan, Bhatiyaan and Kasabad villages. Divisional Forest Officer Daljeet Singh Brar said, "We have searched the forest area and are also trying to spot pugmarks, but there has been nothing so far. We believe that the leopard is in Qadiyan village or near the banks of the Satluj river. We have asked village residents to inform us if they spot the leopard."