Smuggled snakes charred to death

Hundreds of snakes, many of them of rare species, were roasted alive when the vehicle in which they were being smuggled caught fire near Intaunja village in Lucknow district late on Thursday night.

The unidentified driver managed to jump out of the burning vehicle and flee from the spot. Local villagers said they saw two others also running away.

The villagers, who reached the spot after seeing the burning vehicle, informed police that they spotted hundreds of burnt snakes after the fire was doused. Police said there were around 500 snakes kept in wooden boxes inside the vehicle.

“The snakes, many of them two hooded, had been captured from rural areas of Sitapur and Lakhimpur-Kheri districts with the help of local snake charmers,” said Intaunja station officer Mani Shankar Tewari. He said the snakes were being smuggled to some foreign countries where they are in big demand.

Officials suspected the snakes were headed for countries where they are used in preparing medicines, which are considered aphrodisiacs.

Police have registered a case and a manhunt had been launched to nab the occupants of the vehicle. “Efforts are on to trace the owner of the vehicle,” an official said.
This is the first such incident in which an attempt was made to smuggle such a large number of snakes in the district, officials said.

They added that it appeared to be the handiwork of some big organised gang.