Hemaganga Layout has become gripped with panic after multiple predatory attacks by leopards. On Wednesday around 4:17 AM, a leopard was caught attacking a pet dog as part of a frightening incident which was captured on camera. It’s the CCTV footage that shows the predator pouncing on the dog and trying to pull it away. The dog was lucky enough to fight back and survive the encounter but suffers serious injuries and is left limping.
Life Under Siege
The vibe at the layout site has turned grim. For the last few nights, residents have been forced to stay awake, patrolling their streets with wooden sticks to protect their families and livestock. The fear is real, especially among parents, since the layout is filled with a lot of small children currently confined indoors.
The effect on daily life is enormous:
- Workers in Danger: Industrial workers who commute for early shifts, say at 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM, are now too scared to walk alone.
- Fitness Disruption: Even morning walks and outdoor exercises have come to a standstill.
- Economic Security Challenge: The safety (and welfare) of their cattle and their livelihoods is concerning small vendors and dairy farmers.
Allegations of Administrative Inertia
Residents feel deep frustration and outrage at the Forest Department, who continue to be unresponsive to this day. Residents complain of having been soothed with "negligent" and dismissive replies in response when they initially reported the leopard sightings to the authorities.
“We are living on the edge. Soon the bushy patches and forest-like vacant plots nearby have turned into ideal hiding zones for these leopards. If the authorities don’t act now, there is going to be a human casualty,” a worried resident of Hemaganga Layout said.
Demands for Immediate Action
The community has asked, jointly, that the Forest Department stop ignoring their pleas. They are encouraging officials to:
- Deploy Cages: Multiple traps can be stationed within the suspect hide-holes and around their habitat.
- Night Patrol: Increasing the number of forest guards during prime leopard hours (dusk to dawn).
- Clearance of Shrubs: Make sure that barren land with extensive trees is cleared to reduce the number of spots in the forest open to wild animals that the animals can hide there.
And now, as man's fight against beast escalates, Nelamangala's residents wish to be able to get some help out as quickly as possible before a disaster occurs.
