Snake charmer releases cobras in Indian tax office as protest

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A snake charmer in northern India released up to 40 snakes, including spitting cobras, in an Uttar Pradesh tax office.

Hukkul Khan said he was protesting because government officials would not proivide a plot of land for him to keep his reptiles.

“[T]here is no provision for such a business,” land revenue official Subhash Mani told AFP. “Instead of seeking a written reply, which we would have issued, Hakkul created panic by letting loose a bunch of snakes all over the office.”

Khan explained to reporters that he was forced to let the snakes loose because the government was seeking bribes in order to process his request.

“I am a conservationist and have been seeking the government’s help,” he said. “Having waited patiently for so long, I had no option but to leave all my snakes in this office.”

The forestry service was eventually able to recapture the snakes, but authorities are still searching for Khan. No one was hurt because of the stunt.

Watch this video from The Telegraph, broadcast Dec. 1, 2011.

(H/T: Boing Boing)