Cockfight organisers warned of arrests

Vijayawada:NTR district collector Dr G. Lakshmisha warned that stern action would be taken against organisers for holding cockfights and other illegal activities during the three-day Sankranti festival in the district. He unveiled a poster designed by the animal husbandry department prohibiting cockfights during a meeting organised at the district collectorate to discuss measures to curb cockfights during the upcoming Sankranti festival on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, Lakshmisha stated that, under Section 10 of the AP Gaming Act, 1974, and Section 34 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, cockfights are banned. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against organizers who violate the norms by organising or participating in cockfights.

Officials explained that, following High Court orders, special teams have been formed at village, mandal and divisional levels to curb cockfights in the district. They noted that the village-level team would consist of a VRO, a police constable and an Animal Husbandry Department official. The mandal-level teams would include a tahsildar, SHO, animal husbandry department mandal-level officer and the divisional-level teams would comprise an RDO/sub-collector, DSP/ACP and animal husbandry deputy director.

The district collector directed the village, mandal and divisional teams to coordinate with local representatives and create awareness among people about the consequences of organising or participating in cockfights. He also instructed officials to intensify ground-level raids to ensure that no cockfight arenas are erected.