TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 21 December 13 Snake charmers accompany President at RP Nilayam (Sunil Mungara)

Hyderabad: Three snakes including two cobras were trapped in the sprawling Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum few hours before and after the arrival of President Pranab Mukherjee here on Thursday.

Around 11 am, a seven-foot long cobra and a rat snake were caught by snake-charmers Chinna Maulana and Karim near Gate No 2. The President arrived in the evening. An eight-foot long cobra that was spotted in the Herbal Garden was caught at around 10.30 pm. "We managed to catch all the three snakes," Maulana told TOI. Unlike zoo officials who are armed with large forceps and gloves, the snake-charmers went about their job with just a stick.

The Rashtrapathi Nilayam is inhabited by snakes and other reptiles owing to its fruit and oranamental gardens spread across 90-acres. Authorities had caught a water snake inside the premises ahead of the President's arrival last week. To ensure that no snakes came in the way of the President, the two snake-charmers accompanied Pranab during his morning walk on Friday. "Luckily, we did not find any snakes during the President's morning walk," Maulana said.

Recalling previous instances of catching snakes, Maulana said they caught a nine-foot viper in 2009 when Devi Singh Shekhawat, husband of then President Pratibha Patil, was taking his evening walk. The snake was spotted by Devi Singh who informed the security personnel after which the snake-charmers caught the viper. However, Devi Singh never ventured out for a walk in the evenings following the incident, he said. Maulana and Karim will be stationed at Rashtrapathi Nilayam quarters until the President's southern sojourn ends on December 31.

The four snakes that were caught were kept in wooden boxes and transported to the Nehru Zoological Park. With another 10 days to go for the President's sojourn to end, it remains to be seen how many snakes will be caught. The monkey menace that was hitherto prevalent in Rashtrapati Nilayam has now been practically eliminated.
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