Protestors block traffic at Srinagar Pauri Marg at Khandah against the negligence of forest department to control the maneater leopard attacks leading to several tragic deaths

After the incessant attacks of maneater leopards in various parts of Uttarakhand especially in the Pauri Garhwal district and that too near the Pauri township where sits the District Magistrate , the infuriated and angered residents of the affected villages as well as the surrounding areas have United themselves and started protesting to raise their voice into the dead years of the concerned authorities. The recent two brutal deaths by carnivores , maneater tiger in Banthee and Kamadh villages under the jusrisduction of Pauri Garhwal district in Idwalsiun Patti and a woman yesterday grievously injured in another maneater attack have compelled the locals to come on the roads to protest vigorously. According to the latest news the increasing number of leopard attacks in Pauri district has sparked widespread anger among villagers.

Over the past few months, leopards have attacked numerous people in various areas of the district, resulting in several deaths and serious injuries.

Following the latest incident, angry villagers blocked the Srinagar-Pauri road in the Khandah area and protested against the Forest Department.

The villagers allege that the Forest Department is not taking any concrete action despite the increasing number of incidents. They said that as evening falls, an atmosphere of terror descends upon the villages, leaving women, children, and the elderly feeling insecure.

It is reported that a leopard attacked a woman in Auni village late last evening. Fortunately, the woman’s husband displayed courage and chased the leopard away by throwing a stone, saving her life. Following the incident, an atmosphere of fear has gripped the entire area.

The protesting villagers said that the situation has become so dire that people are being forced to abandon their villages and migrate. They demanded that the Forest Department immediately install cages in the affected areas, increase patrolling, and capture the man-eating leopard.

The villagers warned that if effective action is not taken soon, the protest will intensify.

It may be recalled that according to the conservative estimates of the government only five hundred people have become prey in Uttarakhand by maneaters attack including other wild animals, during the last twenty five years since the state came into existence. However, the actual numbers of fatalities and those injured are far more. The Uttarakhand government had first fixed Rs 3 lakhs as financial compensation for those dying due to maneater attacks which was later on doubled to six lakhs. Now in view of the increasing cases of fatalities and surging anger among the affected people the government hasengaced this to Rs. Ten lakh each.