Cockfights all over Andhra Pradesh, cops told to go soft

Rajahmundry: The AP government has gone back on its assurance given to the Hyderabad HC that it will not allow cockfights and betting on that in the state during Sankranti, by allowing cockfights to be held in many areas.

Leaders from the TD-BJP alliance inaugurated cockfights at several places in the Godavari districts on Thursday.

For instance, BJP MP Gokaraju Ganjaraju kicked off the cockfight at Koppaka village while another BJP leader K. Raghurama Krishnam Raju, did so at Bhimavaram.

TD MLA Chinthamaneni Prabh-akar, inaugurated a cockfight at Pedavegi in West Godavari.

Though initially, these leaders started cockfights in traditional style, the events turned commercial by evening as knives were attached to the roosters and huge amounts changed hands through betting.

The organisers set up huge pandals to conduct the cockfights with betting. Gundata, playing of cards and other illegal things were organised in the Godavari districts.

Although initially the police did not get orders on whether to act tough or go soft with the organisers of traditional cockfights, later they got a message to be lenient towards traditional style cockfights and to book cases only against those who organised Gundata and gambling.

Some police personnel criticised their brass for forcing them to book cases earlier and when the festival began they remained tightlipped without giving clear instructions on how to handle the organisers of cockfights.

Moreover, police sources say that they were instructed to build up cases and book culprits, as the government is supposed to file its affidavit in the HC claiming that it booked several cases and nabbed the culprits.

The police also found itself in an embarrassing situation when they asked the organisers of cockfights to wind up and remove pandals as the latter asked them to initiate action against the legislators first as they were the ones who started the conduct of cockfights and inspired them to do so.

When contacted, Eluru range DIG P. Hari Kumar said, "We are booking cases against those who are conducting cockfights violating the law. We are not lenient on the issue."

However, animal rights activists are fuming against the government for bluffing at the HC and allowing cockfights without imposing curbs on them.

Several activists and representatives of the Animal Welfare Board of India, are moving in villages and videographing the conduct of cockfights and other anti-social activities to present in court.

Animal Welfare Board of India honorary welfare officer P.B.K.
Acharyulu said, "We are building up evidence against the government as it failed to curb cockfights despite giving an assurance on it to the HC. We will submit it in the HC seeking action against the government as a large number of birds are being subjected to cruelty for fun."