Officials 'secure' HS exam centre after leopard pugmarks found

The footprints of a leopard was found at a Higher Secondary Examination Centre in Alipurduar district. The scared local residents informed the matter to the forest department. Without delaying further, the forest department installed cages in and around the area to trap the hidden beast. Four trap-cameras were also installed there to get the footages.

The teachers of the Mc William Higher Secondary School spotted the footprints of the animal in the muddy surface. They contacted the foresters of Buxa Tiger Reserve to probe the incident. The officers of Buxa, however, did not confirm that it was the footprint of a leopard. They are expected to examine the photograph of the footprints soon.

But foresters installed the cages for the safety of the higher secondary candidates. They have also tied a black goat as a bait. But no leopard was trapped till Sunday night.

"The trap cameras will capture the pictures of the leopard. We have installed it in the four corners of the field adjacent to the school. We tied a black goat as bait. The leopard will be trapped inside the cage soon after it'll enter into it. Our arrangement is ready," said Jiten Karji, the mobile ranger of Buxa Tiger Reserve.

It may be recalled that a full grown female leopard at Shanti Colony in Jalpaiguri was captured and released in a forest in mid-2016. The animal was caught at night in a trap laid at the tea garden.