Virar resident held for killing snake

The accused Anant Hatthiwala; the dead snake

A Virar resident has been arrested for allegedly beating a snake to death in a housing society premises on Thursday. The accused, Anant Hatthiwala, 35, was produced before the Vasai court on Friday and has been remanded in forest custody till Monday.

The incident took place on Tuesday (November 23) around 10.30 pm at Pinnacle Building in Bolinj, Virar West. A witness took photos of the incident and posted them on social media, which went viral. As per the photographs, the snake is a non-venomous Checkered Keelback, also known as Asiatic water snake, which is protected under schedule II of part II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Sunish Subramanian Kunju, honorary wildlife warden associated with state Forest Department, learnt of this incident and took it up with the range forest officer in Mandvi, asking for action against the accused.

Following this, forest officers apprehended Hatthiwala, who had used a bamboo stick to kill the snake.

An eye-witness said, "The snake was far away with no residents or kids nearby. After killing the snake, the man seemed unbothered and almost proud of it."

Speaking with mid-day, Kunju said, "If anyone comes across any wildlife in their vicinity, especially snakes, they should inform the Forest Department, wildlife NGO or snake rescuer instead of killing it. Most of the snakes that we find are non-venomous. Only Spectacled Cobra, Common Krait, Russell's Viper and Saw-Scaled Vipers are commonly-found venomous snakes."

Investigating officer and Mandvi Range Forest Officer Shweta Ade told mid-day, "We have registered a preliminary offence report under sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hatthiwala has been arrested for hunting a snake."