Cockfights mark Sankranti in Adilabad, Police crackdown intensifies
13 Jan 2025 9:02 PM IST
Cockfights. (Representational Image)
Adilabad: The Sankranti festival witnessed the resurgence of cockfights along the banks of the Godavari and Pranahitha rivers in the erstwhile Adilabad district. These events, held in secluded areas and village outskirts, have been ongoing for the past week, particularly in the Chennur and Sirpur (T) Assembly constituencies, drawing participants from neighbouring Telangana villages and bordering Maharashtra.
Punters from Maharashtra’s Aheri and Sironcha regions reportedly joined the festivities, while locals from Mancherial district travelled by bikes and cars to the cockfight venues. In some instances, participants crossed the Pranahitha River into forested areas on the Maharashtra side, leveraging familial connections across the border.
Police intensified their operations to curb the illegal activity. In Kotapalli mandal, raids in forest areas near Nagampeta and Bopparam villages led to the seizure of ₹59,780 in cash, seven mobile phones, four bikes, and 10 roosters used in the fights. Seven people involved in betting and organising the events were taken into custody.
Kotapalli sub-inspector Rajender said that police have ramped up surveillance of secluded areas, forest regions, and riverside locations to control cockfighting activities during Sankranti. Despite these efforts, organisers use coded messages to inform select participants about event locations and timings, making it challenging to intercept their plans.
The tradition of cockfights in villages along the Godavari and Pranahitha rivers is long-standing, with many settlers from other regions maintaining the practice.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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