Leopard on the loose in Meerut, schools, markets closed, army, police yet to nab animal

Crowds of curious onlookers followed the big cat wherever it went yesterday, giving a tough time to police and forest officials who were trying to trap it.

The feline left five persons and a policeman, who was trying to trap it, injured.

According to Sanjiv Kumar, SDO forest department, a search operation is still on and the animal is suspected to be hiding in Cantonment area.

"The leopard was first sighted yesterday morning in a godown. A person entered the store and was attacked and injured by the big cat."

Later, the animal entered a nearby hospital in army cantonment area, he said.

A team of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) was called to trap the leopard but their bid proved futile as the animal escaped breaking glass panes of window early morning today, the officer said.