leopard scare in the Pauri district is causing absenteeism of students in schools. In the worst affected Ekeshwar block many terror-stricken parents have stopped sending their kids to schools even though a purported man-eater leopard was shot dead on Sunday evening.

 On Sunday a 57-year old woman was mauled to death by a leopard in Maletha village of Ekeshwar block. Incidentally same village witnessed the death of another woman on September 22 due to leopard attack. The shooter deployed by the forest department killed one female leopard on Sunday evening but villagers are scared so much that they have stopped venturing out alone.

Ekeshwar block epitomizes escalating man-leopard conflict as ten people have lost their lives to prowling leopards in the area since 2012. One of the residents of Maletha village Saurabh Rawat told The Pioneer that two back to back killings have shocked the tiny village.

He said that the village does not have a primary school so the children have to go to neighbouring Nandakhal primary school for studies. “In absence of any safety measure, we have stopped sending the children to the school as the kids have to trek 1.5 km daily through the area where 4-5 leopards are regularly spotted, to reach the school” he said. A worried Rawat said that the villagers are not sure about the identity of the leopard killed by the forest department as a goat was used as bait and as many leopards roam in the area it is very much possible that the man eater is still alive.  Pradeep Singh Rawat a teacher in the primary school of nearby Bailudi village confirms that very few students are coming to the school due to leopard scare. He said that the condition is similar in other schools of the area. Satpal Singh of Malai village said that villagers are so scared that they are venturing to their fields and other places in groups.

When contacted the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Pauri district Kuldeep Gairola said that he has directed the Block Education Officer (BEO) to change the school timings if the villagers demand it for fear of leopards. He said that all school heads are being asked to inform the students during the morning assemblies that they should move in big groups while venturing out to prevent the attack of wild animals. Gairola added that parents should accompany their wards to the school to ensure their safety.