Punters rake in crores in cockfights

Rajahmundry/Guntur/Vijayawada: In the last three days, bets worth an estimated Rs 600 crore to Rs 800 crore has been placed on cockfights in the two Godavari districts and their neighbouring villages.

Betting over cockfights and other forms of gambling in Krishna district alone saw an estimated Rs 100 crore changing hands. The estimate is limited to active betting and money changing hands on the spot.

In Yanamalakuduru of Vijayawada alone, bets on cockfights were worth over Rs 3 crore, said people in the know.

According to sources, people from several parts in the state, including from Rayalaseema area and some from Bengaluru and other place reached West Godavari and the Konaseema areas in East Godavari to bet on cockfights.

Those punters who clinched deals with people who organised the cockfights to give a share of the ‘profits’ if allowed to take bets, had a field day.

Local leaders and their supporters too got their share for allowing “smooth conduct” of cockfights in their “jurisdiction”.

A majority of the cockfights were organised by a particular social group, which is predominant in Bhimavaram, Narasapuram and its neighbouring areas. while cockfights on a smaller scale were organised by other sections of the society.

In East Godavari district, especially in parts of Konaseema, police booked over 300 cases on conduct of cockfights and also 100 cases related to conduct of Gundata and gambling.

In West Godavari district, about 300 cases were booked on conduct of cockfights and for other illegal activities in villages located in Bhimavaram, Narasapuram, Eluru, Kovvur and Jangareddygudem mandals.

Police seized Rs 1.70 lakh in cash from the organisers. The police maintain that no fake currency notes were found when they seized the cash from the organisers.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Sankranti celebrations in Edupugallu in Krishna district, minister K. Ravindra said that the Chief Minister allowed cockfights.

“To revive the spirit of Sankranti among the poor, the Chief Minister spent Rs 450 crore and gave away Chandranna Kanukalu apart from Rs 1 crore to every district. The CM also gave permission to conduct cock fights without knifes and without cruelty towards birds. Cockfights are a tradition and local MLA Bode Prasad attracted youth by conducted Sankranti celebrations,” Mr Ravindra said.

In Guntur district, delta areas like Kolluru, Bhattiprolu, Nizampatnam and Repalle mandals turned into venues for cockfights.

Besides, remote areas in Gurazala, Piduguralla, Pedakurapadu, Rajupalem and Sattenapalli became dens for cockfights.

A senior TD leader, on condition of anonymity, said his party men had pressurised legislators who in turn “leaned on” the police department hence the cockfights were organised smoothly without much disturbance.