Snakebite kills man after it was forcibly garlanded around neck

Police arrested Bhopa (a priest singer for folk deities in Rajasthan) after a youth, over whom he forcefully garlanded a snake, died of snake bite on Sunday in Jatawas village in Rajasthan. The accused Bhopa, identified as Indraram Suthar, would treat the people bitten by poisonous insects and reptiles through exorcising and sorcery. Ummedaram, son of Ramuram Jat, a resident of Pulanio Ki Dhani lodged a report that his brother Baburam had attended a Jagran (a religious ceremony of singing deities' song throughout the night) organized by Sugnaram at his residence, told SHO Deepsingh Chauhan at Lohawat police station. The Bhopa forcefully garlanded the snake around the neck of Baburam, who was also present there. The snake suddenly took a bite at the ear of his brother and immediately affected his body with the poison. He was rushed to local hospital where the doctors on duty declared him dead.