Bengaluru: An employee with the BBMP Wildlife rescue team has alleged that the police harassed him, based on a ‘false’ complaint filed by a woman, in whose house he had gone to rescue a snake.
Manjunatha P. received a call from one Prabha, a resident of Royal Hermitage in Gottigere, requesting him to catch a snake which had sneaked into her house. But, little did he know what was in store for him.
He said, “I got the call around 8.30 am when I was on my way to drop my child to school. When I reached the given address, I saw two policemen in Hoysala waiting for me. They took me to the woman’s house where after some effort I caught the snake.”
However, as Manjunatha was heading back to let the snake into the Bannerghatta forest, the policemen insisted that he go with them. “Instead of taking me to the forest, they took me to the Konanakunte police station and beat me up. They snatched all my belongings, including mobile phone,” he added.
He said the police did not let him speak and told him that they were following the instructions of the police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar. The woman had complained to the police chief that Manjunatha was catching snakes and letting them inside houses to earn money. “I take money only if the residents insist. I have never demanded it,” he said. After this incident I am scared of going to houses to rescue snakes, he added.
Manjunatha was released only after a group of animal rights activists and residents of Royal Hermitage gathered in front of the police station and protested.When the issue was brought to the notice of the DCP (South) Dr Sharanappa, he assured that he would look into the issue.
