Kerala panchayat member who became snake handler out of popular demand in race for 4th time

Sandeep Kumar, the UDF candidate in Atholi panchayat ward of Kozhikode, has learnt a thing or two about politics in his long career. One unexpected thing he mastered is catching snakes. Sandeep, a trained snake handler, is contesting for the fourth time from the same ward.

Even in the middle of a busy campaign day, he received a call last week. A snake had entered a house about 5 km away. Sandeep, who has been a member of the Atholi panchayat since 2010, immediately went to the location. The anxious family waited outside as he entered the house and swiftly captured the intruder, a viper.

In addition to being a people’s representative, Sandeep is also licensed to catch snakes. “When snakes enter houses, most people call the ward members. We then inform either the Kakkayam or the Thamarassery forest office. But their arrival takes time, sometimes even more than five hours. We have had to wait until evening when officers are free. So, when I heard that the Thamarassery forest office was conducting training, I attended the classes and got my license four years ago,” says Sandeep.

Over the years, Sandeep has caught around 400 snakes, including cobras, vipers and rat snakes. “When I reach a place, I first locate the snake. Sometimes it is difficult because of the things lying around. Sometimes only women live in the house, so there is no one else to help,” says Sandeep.

“Once I find it, I lift the tail end with a stick, pick it up carefully without agitating it, and place it in a sack. I then hand it over to the forest officials, or they come to collect it.”

Since the area is remote, snake sightings are more frequent, Sandeep says. “Usually, no one is available to help, and people get scared when they hear about a snake. Usually, I work alone, but sometimes Shiju, another panchayat member, helps me,” he says.

One of his most challenging incidents was when a snake he had already caught escaped. “We were transporting a snake on a bike. The sack we got from the homeowners had a hole, and it escaped onto the road. Unlike houses, catching snakes on the road is more difficult, but after some time, we managed to catch it again,” Sandeep recalls.

Sandeep is one of the 48 volunteers of the Sarpa team in Kozhikode district. “When people contact us, we connect them to the nearest Sarpa volunteer. Sandeep attended the training classes and was found capable of handling such situations. We collect the snakes from volunteers and release them deep in the forest,” says Vijith C, Deputy Range Officer at the Kakkayam forest office. “It is better to call a trained professional than to try catching snakes on your own. People should also keep their surroundings clean, without waste, bushes or tall grass,” he adds.

“People recognise and appreciate this work when we visit houses during the campaign. Even though I am afraid of snakes, it is a service that needs to be done, and that is why I do it,” says Sandeep.