Amid increasing leopard attacks in Pune district, terrified villagers in Pimperkhed in Shirur tahsil have adopted an unusual safety measure by wearing belts or collars fitted with sharp nails around their necks while working in the fields, and installing iron grills around their homes to protect themselves.

As leopards remain at large, villagers continue to face disruptions to their daily lives from repeated attacks in the area. Jadhav highlighted the plight of farmers, saying that leopards can enter the fields at any time; hence, they are wearing these spikes.

Three people, including a 5-year-old girl, an 82-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy, were killed in separate attacks since October 12, triggering massive public anger across the region.