Panic gripped Jamia Nagar on Monday after a dramatic eight-minute video clip surfaced in local WhatsApp groups, claiming a leopard had been spotted roaming near Ghaffar Manzil. The clip, accompanied by an alarming message “urging parents to keep their children indoors”, spread like wildfire across social media platforms and resident groups, triggering fear and speculation.
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Despite the frenzy, The OT exercised editorial caution and refrained from publishing the video until its authenticity could be independently verified. While many rushed to amplify the unconfirmed footage, the OT prioritised responsible journalism, mindful of the potential chaos such unverified claims could unleash in Jamia Nagar.
After over an hour of confusion in Jamia Nagar, it was finally confirmed that the viral video of a leopard allegedly spotted in Ghaffar Manzil was fake.
The clip had been mischievously edited and circulated with the apparent intent to cause panic among local residents, especially families with children.
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After the video started doing the rounds, The OT immediately contacted the person who had posted it, seeking clarity. When asked if he had personally seen the leopard, he admitted: “No. But the wall in the video looks like the one in Ghaffar Manzil. Anyway, the video was shared by someone else.” Attempts to contact the original source of the video were made repeatedly, but he did not respond to multiple calls. Several others also tried reaching out again, without success.
Eventually, The OT reporter located the individual somewhere in Jamia Nagar. When questioned, he finally admitted that the video was old and had no connection with Ghaffar Manzil or the present day.
The misinformation was eventually debunked when Wakeel Qureshi, a local resident and social media user, publicly confirmed the video was fake. “It is disheartening to see people in Okhla spreading fake videos that stir unnecessary fear and confusion,” he said.
Qureshi posted on his timeline: “This video is actually from Taragarh. It was recorded during a trip. The original video has been misused by some individuals from the Okhla, who shared it on social media and falsely claimed it was from Ghaffar Manzil. Please don’t create an atmosphere of fear by spreading misinformation.”
Soon after, a concerned group member posted a strong advisory, reminding everyone that sharing unverified and fake content on social media is not just irresponsible as it is a punishable offence under the law.
Later, a vigilant resident managed to trace and post the original, unedited version of the viral clip. It clearly showed that the initial eight seconds had been deliberately clipped and manipulated either as a misguided prank or with the intent to sow confusion.
The full video left no room for doubt: There was no lion, no danger, and certainly no Ghaffar Manzil connection. Reacting to the incident, another resident commented sharply: “There are plenty of attention-seekers these days who crave popularity on social media. They don’t think twice before spreading misinformation, even if it causes unnecessary panic in the community.”
Another resident shared his initial reaction, saying he was momentarily shocked when the leopard video first appeared in his WhatsApp. “There’s no forest or wilderness anywhere near Ghaffar Manzil,” he pointed out. “So how could a wild animal like a leopard just wander into such a densely populated area? And if something like that had actually happened, the forest department would’ve been alerted immediately.” He added that he was skeptical from the start and never fully believed the authenticity of the clip.
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Some residents were reminded of a more plausible wildlife sighting during the COVID-19 lockdown, when a neelgai (blue bull) was spotted roaming freely outside the Jamia Millia Islamia campus. That incident had occurred when human activity was at a standstill and urban wildlife momentarily reclaimed public spaces. But this so-called ‘lion sighting,’ they said, felt more like a prank than reality.
