Snake charmer's slithering protest, snake charmer protest A snake charmer released dozens of the poisonous animals in a tax office in northern India after claiming officials had demanded bribes from him.


Staff jumped onto chairs as the snakes slithered around the floor of the building in the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh.

A team from the Forestry department was called to catch the reptiles.

Hakkul, the snake charmer, said he had written to officials and even the President asking for land to "conserve" his snakes.

He said his request has been cleared by senior officials in the revenue department, but officials lower down were demanding pay-offs and he did not have money to meet their demands.

"I had to dump the snakes because DM (district magistrate) and SDM (sub divisional magistrate) told us that 'we have approved your application but lower-level officials are sitting on it'.

"They are demanding bribe time and again but I am unable to meet their demand.

"Where will I keep these poisonous snakes? I don't have space."

No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident.