**Fear Grips Villagers as Leopards Roam Freely in Vadner Dumala-Pimpalgaon Khamb Area**
An atmosphere of fear has taken hold among villagers in the Vadner Dumala-Pimpalgaon Khamb region due to the increasing free movement of leopards. Several incidents of human attacks have been reported, heightening concerns among local farmers and residents.
In response, villagers led by former corporator Keshav Porje staged a dharna protest on Thursday, September 25, in front of the office of Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) G. Mallikarjun. The protesters demanded that all leopards in the vicinity be captured within five days. They warned, “We will catch the leopards and release them to the forest department” if their demands were not met.
The protest lasted for about an hour and a half, during which the demonstrators shouted slogans emphasizing their concerns: “If we don’t have security, you won’t have it either.” Once the protest concluded, the villagers presented forest officials with a replica of a leopard as a symbolic gesture.
The issue of leopards moving freely is not confined to Vadner Dumala and Pimpalgaon Khamb alone but extends to adjacent areas such as Dadgaon, Deolali Camp, and Lamroad. Continuous leopard sightings and attacks have led farmers to avoid venturing into their fields out of fear.
Prominent participants in the protest included Keshav Porje, Sunita Kothule, Aslam Maniyar, Jayant Gadekar, Amit Jadhav, Bunty Korde, Sudhakar Jadhav, among others.
### Forest Officials Give Assurances
The protesters’ delegation secured a written assurance from forest circle officer Mallikarjun. The commitment detailed several action points, including:
– Deployment of three forest teams from Nashik.
– Involvement of a rescue team from the TTC Rescue Department.
– Engagement of a specialized team from Sangamner.
– Inclusion of research experts from Borivali National Park.
– Arrangement of 20 additional cages to capture leopards.
Currently, the Nashik forest circle has adequate cages, and the necessary permissions have been sought from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Nagpur.
It was also noted that three leopards captured earlier have not yet been released back into their natural habitat, suggesting ongoing management efforts.
Forest Officer G. Mallikarjun appealed for calm and cooperation from citizens, stating, “If my departure stops the leopard attacks, I am ready to leave Nashik.”
Following these assurances, the protesters withdrew their demonstration.
### Rising Concerns Among Citizens
The escalation in leopard sightings and attacks has alarmed residents in the Nashik area. Citizens are urging the Forest Department to take concrete and timely steps to ensure the safety of villagers while also managing wildlife responsibly.
The situation remains tense, with the local community closely monitoring actions taken by the Forest Department to address this pressing issue.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/nashik-fear-stricken-villagers-give-5-day-ultimatum-to-forest-department-to-catch-leopards