Despite restrictions, organisers of cockfights gear up for blood sport

Rajamahendravaram: As three-day Sankranti festival is approaching fast, cockfight organisers are gearing themselves up to conduct cockfights in East Godavari district. Though there were restrictions on the activity, as usual they are preparing to go ahead.

Leaders of various political parties look other way in stopping the blood sport in the district fearing they may lose their vote banks if they oppose it. As politicians participate in the revelry, police also would become spectators.

Meanwhile, the events may be conducted on a massive scale in Amalapuram area, the home turf of Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa and his constituency Peddapuram. Cockfights will be organised at Mummidivaram, Muramalla, Amalapuram, Razole, Kothapeta, Vetlapalem, Rajanagaram, Ravulapalem, among other places in the district.

According to a cockfight organiser, the blood sport is part and parcel of the three day Sankranti festival which is also a tradition for hundreds of years. The sport is just a fun for two or three days and there is no harm to cocks, he maintained.

M Ramaraju of Konaseema said it became inevitable to the leaders of political parties to become a mere spectators with regard to cockfights. The prices of fighting roosters start from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh based on their features.

According to sources, last year the punters brought Indonesia cocks into arenas and this year too they may bring in foreign birds. As many as 50 breeds of cocks will enter into arena after getting necessary training. Meanwhile, the police as usual are making arrangements to foil the bids of punters.