Chikkamagaluru: In a heartbreaking incident, renowned snake rescuer Naresh met a tragic end after being bitten by a cobra he had rescued earlier in the day. The unfortunate incident occurred when Naresh attempted to release the snake from his scooter's storage compartment.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning, when Naresh responded to a distress call from a concerned resident in the Chikkamagalur district. Known for his expertise in handling venomous reptiles, Naresh swiftly arrived at the location to rescue the cobra, which had been spotted near a residential area.

After successfully capturing the snake, Naresh carefully secured it in the dicky compartment of his scooter. However, as he was attempting to release the snake in a safe environment on Tuesday evening, tragedy struck. The cobra managed to deliver a venomous bite to Naresh, causing immediate distress.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, locals were rushing Naresh to the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention, but Naresh died before reaching the hospital.

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Naresh had been catching snakes in Chikkamagaluru and neighbouring areas for the last 25 years. He had rescued hundreds of snakes and conducted many awareness programmes on snakes. He was known for his extensive knowledge of snakes and passion for wildlife conservation, had gained widespread recognition for his commendable efforts in rescuing and relocating reptiles across the region. His expertise and fearlessness in handling venomous snakes had earned him the admiration and respect of both the local community and wildlife enthusiasts.

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Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that a recent article in a RSS mouthpiece about the property owned in the country by the Catholic Church indicates the "true mindset" of the right-wing organisation and the alleged "majority communalism of the Sangh Parivar".

In a statement issued by his office, Vijayan said that though the article was removed from the website of the RSS mouthpiece, it gives some "negative signals".

The CM also alleged that it should be seen as part of "a grand plan to target the minority groups one by one and destroy them step by step".

A similar view was expressed by Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan who claimed that the article shows that the RSS has now set its eyes on the property of the church.

In his statement, the CM further claimed that it also shows the Sangh Parivar's "intense majority communalism which is against other religious communities".

Vijayan urged all progressive democratic secular movements to jointly resist such moves.

Satheesan, while speaking to reporters in Kozhikode, claimed that in the article the RSS has asked the central government to acquire the over seven crore hectares of land belonging to the Catholic Church.

He contended that according to the RSS, the church property was illegally leased during the British era.

Satheesan claimed that the RSS demand in the article came on the same day when the Waqf Bill was passed in the Parliament.

"We warned that if the Waqf Bill is passed, the Church Bill will follow," he added.

The opposition leader said that such actions indicate that while the Sangh Parivar was trying to appease Christians in Kerala, it was attacking them in the rest of the country.

He expressed hope that the Christians will recognise them as "wolves in sheep's clothing".