The deer was first sighted around 8.45 am at the Government Schoool for girls in Sector 8. The school staff immediately alerted the police and officials of the forest department.

With a pack of stray dogs on its heels, the frightened and slighly wounded animal leapt over the school compound wall and went through the Sector 8 market. It entered a dry-cleaner's shop -- one of the few shops open at that time -- and took refuge at the back. The shopkeeper promptly downed the shutter, trapping it inside.

Within minutes, the police and forest department staff arrived at the spot. After a few attempts, the forest personnel managed to lasso the animal and wrap a net around it. The deer nearly broke away as it was being put on a jeep-trailer. Itgave up only after forest deparment workers tied up its legs.

According to Chief Conservator Forests H S Sohal, the Sambar was later released in the Napeli forest range. He said quite a lot of Sambars can be found in the UT forest range. An offical said that often in winters, two Sambars engage in a fight and one is eventually driven out by the other.

Where's the leopard!

CHANDIGARH: A leopard was reportedly spotted at the CSIO complex in Sector 30 led by some students on Tuesday. Since such a sighting was reported for the third time in less than 72 hours, the forest department came promptly to investigate the call. In short, although the forest department staff spent the better part of Tuesday beating around the bush, the leopard was not spotted.