Fashion show organiser arrested for using snakes on ramp

Ranchi, July 29 (IANS) Shabir Hussain, organiser of a fashion show in which models walked the ramp after wrapping snakes around their neck, has been sent by a court Tuesday to 14 days judicial custody, the police said Tuesday.

Models walked the ramp Saturday at the Rotary Club in Ranchi, displaying cobras and other snakes in their hand with its body wrapped around their neck. About 6-7 snakes were used in the fashion show organised by an institute, Centre for Education.

Animals lover raised a hue and cry over the issue. They said that the display of cobra is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Shabir Hussain, organizer of the show, Sunday told reporters: 'The idea of displaying snakes on ramp was imitated from Bollywood.'

Justifying the display, he said: 'No untoward incident took place.'

He was arrested Monday night and produced at a Ranchi court Tuesday. He was sent to 14 days judicial custody, the police said.

The snakes were bought to the Rotary Club by snake charmers. Each snake charmer was given Rs.1,100 for the show. The snake charmers were called from Ranchi's Pahari temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped.

The snake charmers Tuesday lodged their complaint in Ranchi's civil court, saying their snakes were misused.

'We were called to display the snakes. The snakes were, however, used by the models on the ramp. We were called with wrong information,' claimed a snake charmer.