NEW DELHI: Panic gripped Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday after rumours of leopard sighting was allegedly reported by a resident of Kaveri Hostel. However, the student in question called out the claim as a hoax, saying the sighting was wrongly attributed to him.Students pointed out that besides the resident, a visually impaired student, no one else had spotted the animal. In an audio recording attributed to the student and circulated on WhatsApp groups, he urged the administration to act against those who spread the panic.Meanwhile, the university administration issued precautionary notices and called in a forest department team, which found no evidence of a leopard on campus. A notice circulated by Yamuna Hostel asked residents to keep doors and windows shut, move around in groups and remain cautious in areas near Jhelum Hostel, the stadium and the old transit house. “Forest officials have not confirmed the presence of any leopard,” Yamuna Hostel warden Gopal Parihar said. The initial alarm led to students roaming around with rods fearing an attack. “It almost felt like there was a fight breaking out. Later we realised it was because of the leopard scare,” said a resident. Others said their parents called in panic after hearing about the incident through social media. Dean of Students Manuradha Chaudhary also confirmed that forest officials did not find any signs of the animal. Several students criticised the circulation of unverified messages and said news reports were published based on the initial claim without cross-checks.
