Chhattisgarh Police worship axe to get rid of snakes on Dussehra

Pathalgaon, Chhattisgarh, Oct 8 (UNI) The Tapkara police officials in Jashpur district have been gripped with superstitions relating to an axe -- 'Tangi' -- and have been regularly worshipping it for 18 years in a bid to keep away serpents, solve unsolved mysteries and remove any looming danger.

''The station falls in the Naglok area where snakes are found in abundance and to get rid of the reptile, the then Station House Officer (SHO) took help from 'Baiga' tribal Dhulu Bhuyian who gave him an axe in 1989,'' Tapkara Station House Officer A R Chhatre told UNI today.

He claimed that since then it has been regularly worshipped by the staff twice a day, who conduct special 'pooja' on Dussehra by the same tribal.

''The main gate of Maalkhana has been reserved as worship place for the axe where the entire staff takes part in the ceremony to appease the axe,'' he said.

The police officials believed that the magical powers of 'Tangi' have been refraining the snakes away from the police station premises.

The police personnel now claim that no snake has been spotted since they started worshipping the axe.

Special arrangements to worship the magical 'Tangi' on the occasion of Dussehra, scheduled for tomorrow, have been completed, he added.

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