Rajamahendravaram: All set for multi-crore betting sport at Sankranti festival

Rajamahendravaram: A three-day festival, Sankranti, is fast approaching and as usual the punters are bred for cockfights in East Godavari district. Cockfights have been held for decades in the district during the festival.

Cockfights is a big business, the turnover of which crosses over Rs 700 crore every year, is organised whether there is ban or no ban. In fact, the government imposing ban on the cockfights has turned out to be farcical exercise. It is called blood sport.

The punters train a variety of roosters such as kaki, nemali, pingali, dega, chavali, kakidega, pachhadega, savala, kokkera, gattu, kodikaki, nalla kokkera, etc. The cockfights are usually held in Ravulapalem, Jaggampeta, Mummidivaram, Sakhinetipalli, Gannavaram, Muramalla, Kothapeta, Tuni, Rajanagaram, Peddapuram, Vetlapalem, Kakinada rural, etc.

Along with East Godavari district, cockfights also be held on a large scale in West Godavari and Krishna districts. Elected representatives are under pressure to ensure that the police do not meddle with the sport. According to a cockfight organiser, conducting of cockfights is held for decades. All the roosters will be given rigorous training, he added.