Leopard prowls villages for three days, sparks fear in Uttar Pradesh border area

A leopard sighting along the Hapur-Bulandshahr border has sparked widespread fear among residents of Bharna and Ladpur villages, with the animal reportedly prowling fields and drain areas for the past three days.

Villagers have confined their children indoors and are avoiding venturing into agricultural fields alone as the big cat has been spotted repeatedly near the boundary between Syana in Bulandshahr and Bibinagar in Hapur, both in Uttar Pradesh.

Forest department teams from both districts have launched a search operation in sugarcane fields and bushes in the area. Officials are preparing to install trap cameras and cages to capture the leopard.

The animal has been spotted around fields and drains as evening approaches, prompting residents to take strict precautions. Parents have barred children from stepping out of their homes unaccompanied.

The forest department has appealed to villagers not to approach the leopard, attempt to encircle it, or throw stones at it. Residents have been instructed to immediately report any suspicious activity to forest authorities.

The leopard scare continues to grip the region as search operations remain underway. Correspondent Vishal Kumar Garg reported the development from Bulandshahr.