Ban or no ban, organisers prepare for cockfights

Rajamahendravaram: Despite High Court's ban and state government's directions against cockfights, the organisers are gearing up to conduct the blood sport as usual by inviting the punters across the state.

The traditional but controversial sport is posing challenge to police department with the ban being in place on cockfights on one hand and mounting pressure from politicians on the other hand. The politicians are not making any public utterances on the issue in view of HC’s firm stand against the sport.

It is estimated that around Rs 300 crore would change hands in the form of betting this year in twin Godavari districts during the Sankranti season. But some interested elements are planning to approach Supreme Court to lift the ban.

Sources said excitement is in the air as there would be attempts to push Indonesian cocks this year also. A cockfight organiser MR Raju of Konaseema area said that many hotel rooms were booked in Amalapuram, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Bhimavaram, Palcole, Eluru and Tadepalligudem, Razole, Tuni, etc., well in advance for the punters.

This year also, Muramalla in Konaseema area may be the main arena like last year, which is the home turf of minister for home Nimmakayala Chinarajappa. Along with Muramalla, the arenas for fights have been set up in Razole, I Polavaram, Malikipuram, Godi, Sakhinetipalli and in many places in Konaseema area.

Last year, VIP galleries, LED TVs, flood lights and other flashy arrangements were made in an area of 10 acres in Muramalla, which is likely to be repeated this year too. Another person from upland area, K Lakshman said Tetagunta village is the main arena for cockfights, besides Vetlapalem, Samalkot, Jaggampeta, Rajanagaram, Ramchandrapuram and Anaparti.

Police are making routine announcements telling people not to go for cockfights as usual. Meanwhile, a daily wage labourer Subbayya of Rajanagaram opined that cockfights are part and parcel of the local tradition, which had been in existence for many years. “Earlier, many kings also used to encourage cockfights and why the government is making a hue and cry for a three-day sport,” he questioned.

East Godavari collector Karthikeya Misra, urban and rural superintendents of police are saying that they will follow the directions of High Court
and deal with iron hand against cockfight organisers and punters. Meanwhile, industrialist and BJP leader K Raghurama Krishnamraju reiterated that he will file a Public interest Litigation (PIL) petition in Supreme Court on the High Court directive in regard to the cockfights.

Talking to media in Bhimavaram in West Godavari district, he said that the HC directed the officials to control the traditional cockfight with knives and not fight itself. He reiterated that as per the court directions, the organisers will conduct the traditional cockfight without tying the knives. The cockfight will continue during Sankranti season, he reiterated.

He said, “The court asked officials only to control the cockfight. It did not ban cockfight completely. You have to see cockfight as a competition, not a gambling or cruelty. This is a traditional event during Sankranti season over centuries. If anyone indulged in gambling and other allied activities in the name of cockfight, police can arrest them”.