While villagers fear that a leopard may be roaming in the area, officials maintain that it is likely a wild cat that has strayed into populated areas. Deputy commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray urged villagers to remain cautious and added that efforts are on to track the animal.
The leopard was caught and tranquillised after five hours of efforts around 2.45am and later released into the wild; weight of the big cat (over 70 kg) suggests it was full grown and lived in a forest with ample prey base