Leopard terror grips Gariyaband villages, third child attacked in three days

Raipur: Panic has gripped villages on the outskirts of Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district after a leopard attacked yet another child, marking the third such incident in just three days and triggering fear among residents living barely six kms from the national highway.The latest attack took place on Saturday in Pantora village, where a five-year-old girl, Khomika Bai Kamar, was playing outside her house when the leopard emerged from nearby bushes and tried to drag her away.Her screams alerted family members and villagers, who rushed towards the spot shouting and chasing the animal. The leopard eventually released the child and fled towards the forest as the crowd gathered.The girl sustained injuries from the leopard’s claws and was admitted to hospital after primary treatment.Witnesses said the animal appeared suddenly from dense shrubbery near the settlement and pounced on the child within seconds.The back-to-back attacks have sparked anger against the forest department, with residents accusing officials of failing to act despite repeated sightings and earlier attacks in the area.Villagers have demanded immediate installation of cages, intensified forest patrolling and concrete safety measures before another major tragedy occurs.This was the second leopard attack in the area within 24 hours.On Friday, a seven-year-old girl in Kodobattar village, around two kms from Pantora, was similarly attacked and nearly dragged away by the animal before villagers intervened and rescued her. She was later referred to Raipur for treatment after sustaining serious injuries.In another incident reported on May 22 from Chattanpara in Kodobattar, a 10-year-old boy, Dhanesh Kumar Kamar, was critically injured after being attacked while returning home from a neighbour’s house in the evening.According to villagers, it’s the same leopard hiding near the pathway before suddenly pouncing on the children.The repeated attacks in closely located villages have created an atmosphere of fear across the region, with many residents now avoiding stepping outdoors after sunset. Parents have also stopped allowing children to play outside in the evenings.Forest officials have not yet confirmed whether the same leopard is behind all three attacks, but surveillance in the affected villages has reportedly been intensified, they said.