-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM, MARCH 7 A leopard attacked a dog at Wavti-Vathadev, Bicholim, there by creating panic among villagers on Saturday night. According to villagers, the leopard strayed near the residence of one Pandurang Gawde from Wavti-Vathadev and attacked the dog sleeping outside the house. “The incident occurred at about 12.15 am, when my wife and son were sleeping in the house,” Gawde told Herald. “I had gone out for bhajan in the adjoining village when the incident happened,” he added. “Sensing foul play, my son rushed outside the house with a wooden stick and when the strong beam of torch fell on the leopard, the wild cat left the dog and ran into the darkness,” he explained. It may be recalled that similar incident had occurred in the village in November last year when a dog belonging to one Anil Govekar had escaped from the clutches of the wild cat. Besides, leopards had created a terror in Vawti, Vathadev and Naiginim in Bicholim taluka and the forest department was successful in catching some leopards. Meanwhile, due to the incident there is an atmosphere of panic among the villagers in the area.
