Express News Service By

Hyderabad: As many as seven de-fanged snakes were rescued from the clutches of snake charmers by volunteers of Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh, Karuna International, Sahayog Organisation, Wildlife protection Society, Prani Mitra Ramesh Jagirdar Foundation and other welfare organisations on Wednesday ahead of Naga Panchami.

While two snakes each were rescued from Bhudan Pochampalli, Turkapalli and Chikkadmamidi, one was rescued from Mallikarjuna Nagar near Uppal. This year, Naga Panchami falls on August 1. Catching snakes or causing injury to them is a legal offence which can lead to imprisonment under the Wildlife Protection Act.

President of the Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh Jasraj Shrishimal and president of the Telangana Goshala Federation appealed to the devotees not to feed milk to a snake. “The snake cannot digest milk and it harms the reptile’s body,” they said and urged devotees to perform pujas only at temples.

Snake charmers subject the snake to various types of cruelties which lead to its death. This time Special Police Officers will be posted near sensitive temples, Agarwal said and added that a helpline (9394005600 and 9246175600) also has been formed in this connection.

As many as 40 volunteers of various animal welfare organisations will go around various places to keep a check on snake-related activities.