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Cockfights leave a trail of blood
Cockfights, which began on Sunday afternoon continued on Monday and ended on Tuesday night in many parts of Krishna district with the end of the three-day Sankranti festival. Compared to the last year, the cock-fights arenas increased in the district. It is estimated that arenas were arranged in nearly 80 villages.
Vijayawada: Cockfights, which began on Sunday afternoon continued on Monday and ended on Tuesday night in many parts of Krishna district with the end of the three-day Sankranti festival. Compared to the last year, the cock-fights arenas increased in the district. It is estimated that arenas were arranged in nearly 80 villages.
People of Krishna district joyfully ended the festive season by celebrating Bhogi, Makara and Kanuma amidst joy with family members, friends, relatives and well-wishers. Cock-fights were one of the main attractions this season in the district.
Though police issued warnings to check the cock-fights three days ago, there is no response from the police department from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday night.
On Monday and Tuesday, these fights continued in more than 20 mandals. Lakhs of people watched the cock-fights in the rings arranged by the organisers in Kankipadu, Penamaluru, Vijayawada rural, Vijayawada urban mandal, Kaikaluru, Nuzvid, Ibrahimpatnam, Gannavaram, Bapulapadu, Mylavaram, Vuyyur, Thotlavallur, Reddygudem, Nandigama, Kanchikacharla, Gudivada, Vissannapeta and other mandals.
Eedupagallu of Kankipadu mandal was one of the biggest centres for cock-fights this year. Crores of rupees changed hands during the fights in Eedupugallu. Interestingly, women also curiously watched the cock-fights sitting in the tents and galleries arranged by the organisers.
Similarly, gambling was also attracted the people. Liquor flowed freely near the cock-fight arenas. Cold drink stalls, make shift biryani stalls, ice cream traders did brisk business worth lakhs of rupees in three days.
The organisers collected vehicle parking fee for allowing the vehicles to park near the rings. Most of the arenas were arranged in the agriculture farm lands as the paddy harvesting season was completed.
Pedapulipaka is one of the biggest rings arranged in the districts this year. Viewers from not only Krishna but also from Guntur and Prakasam districts also came to watch the cock-fights in Pedapulipaka.
Several hundred rooster growers mostly farmers came to the arenas to try their luck. Bettings crossed more than Rs 50,000 for each fight in Eedupugallu and Pedapulipaka villages on the outskirts of Vijayawada.
Organisers tied the sharp knives to the legs of the roosters so that the fight can be completed as early as possible. They can conduct more games in the rings if the bloody battle is completed at the earliest i.e; within minutes.
Defying the orders of the High Court, organisrs tied the sharp knives openly and organsed the fights. Consequently, hundreds of poor creatures died of severe injuries in the bloody battles.
For the first time, cock-fights were arranged in Vijayawada West Assembly constituency limits in Bhavanipuram. MLC Buddha Venkanna inaugurated the cock-fights. Similarly, Penamaluru MLA Bode Prasad inaugurated the cock-fights on Sunday and attended to witness the fights.
‘Chinna Bazar and Pedda Bazar’ one type of gambling also attracted many people. Hundreds of organisers arranged makeshift tables to lure the people for gambling. Curiously, women also participated in the game and tried their luck.
Gudivada MLA Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Nani joyfully participated in the fights in Gudivada. Many farmers, who have grown and trained the roosters for the fierce fight, faced mixed results. Many farmers have made money when their roosters won the fight and many farmers lost money due to defeat. The three-day cockfights came to an end on Tuesday night in the district.
By Md Ameen
