Uppinangady, April 18, 2021: Snake catcher M R Muhammad Mustafa (30) who was popularly known as Snake Mustafa of Nekkilady died on April 17, Saturday after he was bitten by a cobra.
An autorickshaw driver by profession, Mustafa had been to Nejikaru in Belthangady taluk on Saturday evening after he received a call that a cobra had entered a house. As he was trying to catch the snake it bit both his hands. Mustafa who fell severely ill was immediately rushed to a hospital in Puttur. He died while he was being shifted to a hospital in Mangaluru from there.
Mustafa had rescued over 1000 snakes so far and had released them in the forest. He was also an animal lover and used to rear goat, hens, love birds and pigeons in his home. He has left behind his wife and two sons.
Ironically on Saturday, Mustafa had posted a WhatsApp status showing a dead body and writing that a snake will snatch away human life one day or the other.