For the past 21 days, the forest department has been unable to catch a leopard believed to be hiding in the Vasai fort area. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has barricaded the area to restrict public movement for 12 hours between 7 pm and 7 am. However, the local fishing community says they have noticed suspicious activity in the area in the middle of the night and feel the leopard ‘rumour’ is only to keep the locals at bay. With losses mounting over the barriers hindering business, they have threatened to break them down on Saturday.

Villagers in the Vasai Fort area have given authorities an ultimatum to either catch the leopard or stop the “curfew drama” by the weekend, or they would themselves remove the barricades on Saturday evening. Social activist and local resident Sanjay Koli told mid-day that roads around Vasai Fort are blocked for 12 hours after 7 pm every day, after the alleged movement of the big cat. “But, I have been told by local youth that a loaded truck was seen heading towards Vasai jetty, near the Ro-Ro point, on Monday night. Is something being smuggled during LS elections in the middle of night?” he wondered. “Officials concerned should also keep a close watch on this deserted space to discourage any misdoings during the elections,” he added.