Cock-fights under guise of kabaddi tourney?

Bhimavaram: Vempa, a small village in Bhimavaram rural mandal in West Godavari district is famous for cock-fights across the state. Though, the High Court has directed the organisers to stop cockfights, the Vempa villagers are ready to go ahead and conduct the cockfight in a traditional way.

The villagers of Vempa  arranged kabaddi grounds to conduct state-level kabaddi tournament in the village. However, the kabaddi courts have been constructed in such a way that it would be conducive to conduct cockfights.

On a tip-off, police and revenue department officials reached the village on Thursday and checked the kabaddi courts covered with tarpaulins.
Vempa village comes under the jurisdiction of Narsapur rural police station.

With this, Narsapur Rural Sub-Inspector Subba Rao, along with his team, reached the village and set up a police picket as a precautionary measure. “We will stop the cock-fight if they are conducted here. If they conduct cock-fights under the guise of tournament, the police won’t keep mum” the Sub-Inspector warned.  He said that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were imposed.

Meanwhile, tahsildar of Bhimavaram Chavvakula Prasad reached Vempa village and inspected the kabaddi courts arranged in the village. Speaking on the occasion, the tahsildar said that no permission would be given to organise cock-fights.

If they want to play kabaddi, there is no objection. But if under the guise of kabaddi matches, any organiser tries to conduct the cock-fight, they will be dealt with seriously, he warned.