Leopard scare haunts Banashankari residents; locals allege Forest Dept inaction

BENGALURU: Residents of Banashankari Stage 6 are living in fear for the last one week after a leopard killed a calf last Saturday in the Turahalli forest area which abuts the locality. The Forest Department has placed a trap, but the leopard has remained elusive.

The leopard killed a calf last Saturday.

Anxious residents now fear to step out in the evenings and residents’ welfare associations have advised people not to venture out alone. Construction workers and other have vacated the place for fear of the leopard.

Houses are locked and shops are closed.

Some residents have also moved out of the locality and house owners say no new tenants are willing to come. Some shops are also closed. Locals say the Forest Department has done nothing to track the leopard except for setting up a cage. They say it has become difficult to take children to schools too.

People dread to step out in the evenings.

Meanwhile, forest officials said this is the breeding season for leopards and hence, they are spotted here and there. Also, the locality is close to the forest area. A cage has been placed and department officials have been visiting the spot. The residents need not panic, they said.