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Panther trapped on IIT Bombay Campus

It was a relief for campus residents and students of IIT Bombay when a panther on campus was finally captured on July 11, 2001.

On Sunday, July 8, 2001, watchman G S. Khandagle and a student Emad Abdul Latif were attacked by a panther at the gate near RSIC (at about 150 feet from the Main Building). The panther first attacked Latif at about 10.30 pm when he came across the panther sitting atop the dividing wall. According to Latif, he first assumed it was a dog, but he started screaming when he realized what it was, after which the panther ran off. Mr. Khandagle recalls that he was returning home after finishing his work shift at 11 pm. On his way, near the gate (at the RSIC junction), he heard a loud screech and saw a panther as it lunged towards him and got its claw into his shirt and knee. However, Mr. Khandagle managed to fend it off and escaped.

Arrangements were made by the Security Section of IIT Bombay with the help of Forest Dept. officials of the Government of Maharashtra to capture the panther. The path was fenced off with warning signs, and a cage was set up to capture the panther. Finally, on the night of Wednesday, July 11th, Forest Dept. officials along with security guards managed to trap the panther successfully, and the animal was later released in the Borivli National Park.

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