In response to ongoing public protests, the government has given its assurance to capture the leopard that has been causing fear and disruption in the Mannarmala region, situated near Perinthalmanna.
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran declared that definitive steps would be implemented to ensure the safety of Mannarmala residents. These measures will include actively capturing the leopard, potentially through tranquilization.
For the past week, the leopard has been repeatedly sighted by locals, escalating their concerns and leading to organized demonstrations against what they perceive as inaction from the forest department.
Previous attempts by forest officials to trap the elusive animal using a cage proved unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, residents took their frustration to the streets, blocking roads and demanding immediate intervention to capture the leopard. As a result, police filed cases against 30 individuals, including Vettathur panchayat president C.M. Mustafa and councillor Thorappa Haidar, for their involvement in the road blockade.
The protests turned confrontational when authorities forcefully dispersed the demonstrators. Despite this, the community remains resolute, vowing to continue their agitation until concrete action is taken to safely remove the leopard from their vicinity.