Mussoorie, Nov. 17 -- A spate of leopard attacks in the Pokhra block of Kotdwar, Pauri district, has sparked panic among residents, with villagers staging protests and demanding urgent intervention from authorities. The tension escalated over the past three days after a woman was grievously injured on Friday, following the death of another woman in a nearby village a day earlier. According to officials, Prabha Devi of Ghandiyal village was attacked by a leopard on Friday while she was cutting grass with other women. Villagers said the leopard suddenly pounced on her, inflicting serious injuries. The accompanying women raised an alarm, forcing the animal to flee. The incident comes close on the heels of the fatal attack on Rani Devi, an elderly woman from Bagdi village, on Thursday. Rani Devi's death triggered protests at the local Range Office, where villagers demanded immediate steps to curb leopard movements in the area. On Friday, women from several leopard-affected gram panchayats-Bagdigad and Devkundai among them-blocked the main road, led by Devkundai village pradhan Santoshi Devi. Santoshi Devi said continuous attacks have left residents afraid to step out for daily work. "Children are unable to travel to schools and markets like Pokhra, Saknoli Khal and Baijro Bazaar due to fear of the leopard," she said. Residents said three women had been attacked within a week across villages including Bagdigad, Bagdidhar, Silet and Devkundai Malli. An attack on a calf has further heightened panic. Villagers have demanded the removal of the leopard and stricter control of big cat movement in the region. Former block chief Surendra Singh Rawat urged the Public Works Department to clear thick vegetation and bushes along roads, warning that the overgrowth provides hiding spots for wild animals. Chaubattakhal MLA and cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj said he has directed Pauri district magistrate Swati Bhadauria to expedite permission to eliminate the "problematic" leopard. Expressing condolences to the family of Rani Devi, he said, "DM Pauri has been issued clear instructions to secure the necessary permit from the Divisional Forest Officer to initiate a 'shoot-at-sight' order for the animal." He also instructed Forest Department officials to immediately release compensation to the victim's family and assured full government support. Pauri Garhwal divisional forest officer Abhimanyu said permission to eliminate the leopard has been granted, but would be used only as a last resort. "We have installed eight camera traps and three cages. A quick response team equipped with tranquilizers has also been deployed so the leopard can be captured and rescued safely," DFO Abhimanyu said....