Nur Ahmed (with topi) who sighted the big cats first and made video of them
Giasuddin who also sighted the big cats on Monday morning
Panic and sensation sweep large parts of Kurti Gram Panchayat in North Tripura district since Sunday night following the sighting of several big cats roaming freely in the area. Villagers claimed that at least three large cats, possibly a family including a cub, were seen near Madhya Rajnagar, Ward 6, under the jurisdiction of Kadamtala police. While residents believe these animals to be tigers, forest officials are yet to confirm the species, stating that the cats may be leopards, albeit larger than usual. A senior IFS officer in Agartala told Tripuranet that forest staffs had been deployed in the area for whole night duty…”we are keeping close watch”, he said.
The first sighting was reported at midnight on Sunday by Nur Ahmed, a local returning home from Dharmanagar. He spotted two of the animals near the roadside by an Anganwadi center and managed to capture footage from his vehicle, alerting others to the potential danger. Later, he claimed to have seen another large cat near the local school.
Additional sightings were reported on Monday morning by Gias Uddin, another resident, who along with others saw two more big cats near the boundary wall of a house before they disappeared into nearby paddy fields. The reports have left the densely populated village in fear, with many residents staying indoors. Schools have been affected, and businesses in the area have remained closed.
Local authorities, including forest officials and police, have been actively investigating the situation. Despite visiting the village, they have yet to trace the big cats or find conclusive evidence, such as pug marks, to determine the species. Officials from Agartala are also monitoring the situation, providing guidance to the local forest department.
Jahurul Haque, a member of the Kadamtala Panchayat Samiti, noted that sightings of large cats are not uncommon in the area during the months of Bhadra, Ashwin, and Kartik (August to November). In previous years, leopards have been captured from the same region, with a leopard spotted nearby as recently as last year. Some villagers believe the animals may have entered the area due to recent floods, while others suggest they might have come from the nearby Sonaicherra or Pyaracherra tea estates.
North Tripura Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakrabarty visited the village and announced that police patrols have been increased in the area. The Sub-Divisional Forest Officer has also visited the site, and efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of residents.
