This Bilaspur man's death wish is to be thrown to the crocodiles

BILASPUR: Sitaram Das (58) is the man behind Kotmi Sonar crocodile park in Janjgir Champa district. A self-trained herpetologist, Das is a 'friend' of crocodiles of the park and many of them answer his calls to come out for food. He is also the only one who is allowed to deal with crocodiles and feed them chicken.
Speaking to TOI, Das informed that he came to Kotmi Sonar about 40 years ago from Raipur and in his words, fell in love with the crocodiles of the area.
Initially, he began raising their eggs in a utensil at his cottage and used to leave them into the main pond where the park has been developed.
He also had his share of an almost fatal encounter with his pets. About eight years ago, when Das was inspecting some crocodile eggs in one of the village ponds, a crocodile attacked, grabbed and dragged him into the pond. Fortunately, Das managed to free himself and crawl back to the safety of the bank. In the process, however, Das's left hand was injured. He was then admitted to CIMS (Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences), Bilaspur, where he battled for life. Eventually, he lost his hand but returned to Kotmi Sonar and lives in the village temple.
Das further informed that the then district collector Sonmani Bora (now divisional commissioner Bilaspur) took personal interest in first getting him treated and then getting the crocodile park developed, making it a safer spot.
Das is a popular crowd puller like the crocodiles. The moment he comes on the banks of the main pond, several crocodiles surface and even come out in hope of food. He has also written a will, according to which, he wishes to be thrown to the crocodiles after his death.