Leopard creates panic in Vadodara's posh Amitnagar society

Vadodara, Jan 7 (UNI) Panic gripped the posh Amitnagar society in the city's Karelibaug area today when a young leopard strayed into the area and took shelter in the bathroom of a house following a chase by local residents.

Before the roaring leopard could move out, the neighbours, taking all the risk, locked the door from outside.

The leopard, who injured its head and leg in a bid to escape, remained locked in the bathroom for four-long hours before the forest officials captured it in a cage using three tranquiliser this afternoon.

As the news spread, thousands of people gathered on the spot to witness the unusual scene. Forest officials, animal activists and policemen rushed to the spot and the entire area was soon cordoned off to begin the safe rescue operation of the wild cat.

Mr Birendra Sukhadia, brother-in-law of Gujarat government chief whip Jitendra Sukhadia and the house owner where the leopard was locked, said the animal was spotted in the society at around 0845 hrs. As panic-stricken people started shouting on seeing the leopard roaming around the society, it jumped into his residential complex for a shelter, he said.

The injured leopard was taken to a local veterinary hospital for treament immediately after it was made unconscious with three dose of tranquillizer.

Divisional Forest Officer D P Pitre, who was camping at the site with more than two dozen of his staff since morning to capture the leopard, said the rescue operation was delayed as the tranquillizer gun was brought from Anand. After its treatment, the leopard would be released into the forests, he added.

Forest officials believe the wild cat might have entered the area in search of food from the Panchmahal forests bordering Vadodara.

A couple of years ago, a leopard was captured from the closed Mayo Hospital compound, located close to the Amitnagar Society under Karelibaug police station area, after causing great panic among the residents of the locality.

UNI