Mangaluru: A man was assaulted by a Panchayat member and others for allegedly killing a snake in Kolnad, Vittala.

It is said that Siddique, a resident of Kolnad, had killed a snake that entered his house a few days ago. Co-incidentally, water in the surrounding borewells surprisingly, dried up. Not only that, the borewells dug thereafter turned out dry. Upset with this, the locals approached a sorcerer who is said to have told them that someone in the locality had killed a snake which led to the drying up of water in the vicinity .

Miffed with Siddique, the locals allegedly assaulted him and told him to leave the house, complained his wife Mumtaz. She has identified two, namely Panchayat member Pavitra Poonja and Sandeep.

Mumtaz agreed that her husband had killed a snake but to protect the family. She said that she was living with her family in a house granted by the government and they cannot to afford a new house.