Bhopal, Aug. 8: A snake charmer was beaten to death in Indore for displaying snakes on Nag Pachami, reports our special correspondent.

Prakash Nath, 45, and son Raj Kumar, 10, were displaying snakes in Malhargunj area yesterday when Madhya Pradesh forest department offcials and some NGO members stopped them. When they tried to snatch the snakes, Nath resisted, leading to a scuffle.

Raj alleged his father was brutally beaten up. He was declared "brought dead" by the hospital he was taken to. An FIR has yet to be filed.

Since 2005, displaying snakes on Nag Pachami is banned under the Madhya Pradesh wildlife act of 1992. A cop said: "Every year we arrest snake charmers but forest officials cannot beat them up."