'Wanted' snake charmer performs before cops, evades arrest

Kolkata: A snake charmer from Jharkhand, who performed in various parts of West Burdwan and had his name on the list of "Most Wanted Persons" by the West Bengal Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, had a narrow escape on Sunday when Asansol police failed to identify him.

The accused, Mubarak Ansari, a resident of Jharkhand is allegedly involved in smuggling snakes and venoms. A look-out notice was also issued against Ansari by the forest department officials in West Burdwan. The forest department officials in the district claimed that the matter was informed to the police. Asansol-Durgapur police commissionerate however claimed that the information was not communicated to them.

Md Wasif, who runs an iron grill shop in 82 number ward of Asansol Corporation found a cobra inside the shop.

Fear-stricken Wasif called up Ansari who later in the day reached the spot. Ansari managed to catch hold of the snake inside a box. Curious onlookers had already thronged outside the shop to have a glimpse of the snake. Some police personnel from the local Hirapur police station also reached the spot.

The accused performed some of his tricks on the venomous snake in front of the policemen who had no clue about the identity of the accused.

Wasif finally left the spot unperturbed with venomous snake inside a box. He is also known as a 'snake saver' among local villagers in the bordering areas. It was also learnt that the accused has also set up a snake park in Jharkhand's Panchet area.