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WG police caught in crossfire over cockfights
The police in West Godavari district seem to have been caught in the crossfire as a controversy raged over the conduct of cockfights attracting a large-scale betting at some places. The police were at the receiving end, with organisers trying to drive away them away from venues where cockfights and gambling were going on unabated.
Despite the drive against blood sport, organisers & punters unperturbed
Eluru: The police in West Godavari district seem to have been caught in the crossfire as a controversy raged over the conduct of cockfights attracting a large-scale betting at some places. The police were at the receiving end, with organisers trying to drive away them away from venues where cockfights and gambling were going on unabated.
Apparently backed by political clout, the organisers made merry. They inducted revelry of cockfights and gambling into the Sankranti festivities. Political leaders gained an upper hand ultimately in conducting cockfights and gambling, without any hindrance despite the ban imposed by the apex court.
Senior BJP leader Kanumuri Raghuramakrishnam Raju interpreted the court order as that of the verdict in favour of cockfights. But the police did not agree with it. The status-quo order meant that the earlier High Court order, banning the blood sport, stayed, the police said. The politicians sought to persuade the district administration that the cockfights this year would be non-violent in the sense that spurs would not be tied to the legs of roosters. But blades were tied to the legs of roosters before they were let into the ring, to take on their enemies.
Animal rights activists said the provisions of Section 11 (1) (m) (ii) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act prohibited the cockfights. West Godavari Superintendent of Police K Raghuram Reddy said the police had conducted a drive against cockfights.
Gambling on a massive scale was also organised at the venues where cockfights were conducted. One estimate showed that not less than Rs 200 crore changed hands during three days of cockfights and gambling, associated with the festivities.
