Labourer ‘locks’ leopard in house, cops suspect story

However, the house owner Waseem, who is a labourer, claimed that the animal walked into the house while he was sleeping through the main door which was lying open at around 3 am. He told the police that he somehow managed to run outside and bolt the room and called for help, following which locals gathered at his house and the police was informed.

Sub-inspector of Ramgarh police station, Satya Pal told The Indian Express, “The labourer Waseem’s statement appeared to be suspicious as he told that he was sleeping in that room, but there was no cot nor any household item there when I reached.”

Pal, who called the forest department officials, said a detailed enquiry should be initiated into the matter.

The district forest department sought help to capture the animal from the Bear Rescue Centre at Agra, who sent a a three-member team of experts at around 12 pm with a cage.

Divisional Forest Officer, Firozabad, Manoj Shukla said it took around half-an-hour for the team to tranquilise the animal and cage it. He said the leopard, which was spotted in Firozabad for the first time, would be released in a reserve forest after consulting with senior officials.

Shukla, however, denied any foul play behind the leopard’s presence in the house in a crowded city area.

When contacted, Additional Superintendent of Police, Firozabad, Uday Shankar Singh said they would probe into the matter only on the request of the forest department.