Girl dies of snake bite, kin suspect foul play

MUMBAI: A 21-year-old agriculture student was allegedly bitten by a snake while she was taking lessons in handling the reptiles. While the victim died, the snake-catcher, who did not have the requisite qualifications and permissions to conduct classes or keep snakes at his home, is absconding.
The incident took place on March 26 when Riddhi Thakur (21), a second-year student of College of Agriculture, Salegaon, Murbad in Thane district, went to the Virar residence of Kedar Kunte (23), who has been rescuing snakes caught in human dwellings in the Vasai-Virar region.
Riddhi had enrolled in Kunte's Maharashtra Animal Rescue Association (MARA), a non-registered group of snake lovers who are engaged in rescuing reptiles and conducting courses in snake handling and snake identification.
According to he mother, Riddhi had called home around 11 am informing that she was leaving for college. However, around 11.30 am, one of the members of the group called to inform that Riddhi had been bitten by a poisonous snake at Kunte's residence. She was bitten on the thigh by a cobra. She was taken to a hospital in Virar where her condition worsened. On March 31, she died while being shifted to Nanavati hospital in Vile Parle.
The Virar police registered a case of accidental death but her family has alleged foul play. Riddhi, a resident of Arnala in Virar was known as a 'sarp mitra' (friend of snakes) and was familiar with rescuing snakes.
When Riddhi's family rushed to Kunte's home, they were shocked to find snakes of various sizes locked up in glass jars. A few snakes were also roaming freely in the flat, alleged her father, who demanded that Kunte be booked for negligence.
Kunte has over 10 years of experience in rescuing snakes and other animals and had been training youngsters. The group was frequently called to rescue snakes in the Vasai-Virar region and beyond. Sameer Deshpande, range forest officer, Mandvi division, said that Kunte was registered with the forest department to impart training in snake catching.