Residents, including women and farmers, blocked the Polur-Chengam Main Road at Mel Vanniyur village near Arani town in Tiruvannamalai. They demanded that the district administration trap a leopard that has been entering human areas for weeks. Villages like Kidampalayam, Kettavarampalayam, Mel Vanniyur, and Vathiyar Kottai lie near forests in the Kalasapakkam range of Tiruvannamalai. "We are living in fear after repeated attacks by a leopard on cattle in these villages since the first week of January. We are scared to go outside our houses after sunset," said resident S. Pankajam. Forest officials said a two-year-old male leopard was caught on CCTV cameras in Reserve Forests at Molakad, Katana Giri, and Malayalam villages. These forests cover about 15,000 hectares each under Kalasapakkam and Santhanvasal ranges. "The camera trap captured the young leopard on December 31 when it attacked three calves near a forest. We are advising residents to stay indoors after sunset," said S. Murugan, forest range officer, Kalasapakkam. Since December 31, the leopard has killed at least seven cattle in farming villages near the Jawadhu Hills foothills. The Forest Department paid ₹20,000 compensation to each affected family based on orders from K. Sudhakar, District Forest Officer. Despite this, fears persist. Farmers hesitate to work near forests fearing leopard attacks. Officials said the leopard moves about 20 km daily under forest cover, mainly on the Gingee-Kallakuruchi-Chengam-Polur route. Most attacks happened in villages within 10 km of the forests. "The young leopard is scared of people. It was last seen here over a year ago. We are continuously tracking it," added Mr. Murugan. Forest officials have informed Collector K. Tharpagaraj and the Chief Wildlife Warden about the need to trap the leopard to avoid any accidents. On the roadblock, Kalasapakkam police and forest officials assured residents that traps would be set soon. After the promise, the residents peacefully lifted the blockade.