Another leopard close to city

NAGPUR: Close on the heels of a leopard straying into a house in Hari (Vela) village, 12 km from city, another leopard was sighted inside the premises of Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) at Khapri, 13 km from city on Wardha Road.
"The leopard was first sighted by our guard who was on a routine patrolling visit near the fields. It was sitting near the stacks of gram (chana) crop, which was harvested recently," said Rakesh Singh, incharge of the security at the CICR.
The scared guard ran back and informed Singh, who alerted the director of CICR Keshav Kranthi. Kranthi in turn called up conservator of forests for Nagpur Division N Rambabu.
Singh and his staff are patrolling the sprawling premises, spread over 500 hectares. Some families residing inside have been alerted. Rambabu denied that it was the same leopard that strayed into Hari (Vela) village. "We have asked the CICR staff not to move alone. The leopard must have strayed from the nearby forests and may return," he said.