Man dies after being told to let snake bite again

Self-styled healer suggested bizarre remedy, then performed some rituals

Ayoung man has died in Bihar after being advised by a self-styled healer to let a snake bite him in the same place it had bitten earlier.

The bizarre incident took place at Narayanpur village, Bhagalpur district, some 220 kilometres east of Patna, a few days ago but video footage only came to light yesterday.

Reports said the victim, identified as Tiro Singh, son of Puran Singh, would routinely catch deadly snakes and play with them.

Recently, he had caught a deadly cobra with which he would play. Witnesses said he would often hold the snake around his neck, sleep with it and would often tease it at the demand of the local villagers.

Condition deteriorated

Early this week, the cobra bit him after which his family members took him to a local “traditional healer” who suggested them to let the cobra bite him in the same place it had bitten earlier.

“But soon after this act was repeated, the youth’s condition deteriorated,” witnesses said.

Subsequently, the self-styled healer performed some rituals for the next 48 hours, while claiming to be curing the youth of the snake bite, but his condition deteriorated further.

Eventually, the family members took the victim to a local doctor but he was declared dead on arrival.

A similar incident was reported from Gopalganj district last year, indicating how superstitious beliefs are still deeprooted in this part of society.