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Cockfights continue in Koppaka; Police conduct raids
Even after the end of Sankranti festival, cockfights are still going on unabated at Koppaka village in Pedavegi mandal of West Godavari district on Wednesday. The police, who did not visit the Koppaka village over the last three days, conducted the raids on the area, at last.
Eluru: Even after the end of Sankranti festival, cockfights are still going on unabated at Koppaka village in Pedavegi mandal of West Godavari district on Wednesday. The police, who did not visit the Koppaka village over the last three days, conducted the raids on the area, at last.
The Koppaka village is part of the Denduluru Assembly constituency, represented by Government Whip and MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar. The arena, or the place where cockfights are arranged in Koppaka village, was one of the biggest in the district. For the last three days, cockfights, dice games and gambling are continuing unabatedly with hundreds of punters and gamblers taking part.
Even though it has been three days after the Bhogi festival, cockfights are still going on and the police, who remained indifferent, did not enter the village. They were also highlighted in the media.
The cockfight was continued on Tuesday night in the village even in the other areas in the district. On Wednesday morning, hundreds of people and punters reached the arena at the Koppaka village and participated in the cockfight.
On receiving information, Superintendent of Police M Raviprakash sent a police team to conduct a raid on Wednesday afternoon in the village. The organisers and punters were present when the police entered the village.
The police dispersed the punters, visitors and the organisers and escaped from the arena. After entering the area, police were astonished to see the arrangements being made for conducting cockfights. A yellow-tent with iron poles was erected at the arena and a ring was marked where cockfight conducted. There was seating arrangements ten feet away from the ring which allows the visitors and punters to watch the games.
The villagers told them that over the last three days, betting worth crores of rupees on the cockfight were made and the gambling activities also took place.
Liquor sales, cigarette outlets and food courts have been arranged around the ring, the villagers added. After the police raid, the cockfight stopped at the ring.
Eluru (Rural) Circle Inspector of Police Venkateshwara Rao, Pedavegi Sub-Inspector of Police Keerti and several policemen participated in the raids. The police said that four persons were arrested at the site.
Meanwhile, District Superintendent of police M Ravi Prakash said that during three-days of the Pongal festival, the police raided the cockfight dens and took into custody 2,805 persons. They registered 722 cases under sections 9(1) and (2) of Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974 in the district. He said that cash worth Rs. 38,61,923, 1424 knives and three vehicles were seized.
