KOLKATA : Animal charmers, from the state's Bedia community, are facing a distressful situation after the state took away their animals in accordance with the Animal Protection Act. Approximately 800,000 people of the Bedia community in the state have been affected by the law enforcement measures and have had to stop their ancestral profession without being provided with another way to earn their livelihood. As a result, some animal charmers have taken to crime. Community members now blame the government for destroying their profession, which they describe as art. Bedia Federation of India (BFI), a network of this community, have now appealed to various departments of the state and Central government for proper rehabilitation. Mr Raktim Das, a senior office bearer of BFI said most of the community members are wanderers and have no ration or Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards. Earlier, most of these people used to entertain people with animals including snakes, bears and monkeys. But, now things are different. "We are very concerned as our people are now selling amulets and other