Cops, leaders cock it up

Rajahmundry: Hundreds of crores of rupees have changed hands on the first day of the Sankranti as cockfights continue in East Godavari, the native district of the Home Minister. Neither High Court guidelines nor police warnings have any impact on the illegal practice of gambling linked to cockfights.

Organisers of cockfights have made elaborate arrangements at rings by setting up huge LCD screens at the venues and filmed the cockfighting with drone cameras for the convenience of viewers and participants. Not surprisingly, people’s representatives inaugurated cockfights at several places. Gambling organisers have no fear of police as the elected MLAs stood by their side in cockfights in which roosters fought till death to make their owners proud.

In the tail-end mandals like I Polavaram where it is difficult to get water for rabi season due to non-availability of required water level in Godavari, the organisers paid money to farmers to give up planting for this season and set up huge rings. The lands were also used for parking places to accommodate large number of cars near rings. It is estimated that about Rs 500 crore would change hands in cockfights being organised in nearly 100 major rings in East Godavari.

The major ring was set up at Tallarevu in I Polavaram mandal in Konaseema region where nearly half crore rupees have been spent to set up ring similar to mini stadium with all arrangements. Private security personnel employed by the organisers ruled the venues where the police turned blind eye on cockfights despite strict orders by the High Court. Gambling activities like Gundata and playing cards were included to attract gamblers at every venue.

Cockfights were organised in Sakhinetipalli, Godilanka, Godi, Amalapuram rural and Mummidivaram mandals in Konaseema and in mandals of Korukonda Pithapuram and Prathipadu mandals in upland areas. In Rajanagaram constituency, cockfights were going on in full swing in villages including Kapavaram, Gadala, Gadarada, Gummuluru and Narsapur villages as police confined to their police stations.