Crores change hands as cockfights held in large numbers in AP

Visakhapatnam: Cockfights organised on a large scale at various places in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh coinciding with the three-day Sankranti festival turning high-tech this year with the massive arenas put up in agriculture fields with parking facilities, use of smartphones, digital screens and drone cameras.

Sporting traditional attire, thousands of people from all walks of life watched the fights at multiple locations cheering lustily with claps and whistles as crores of rupees was gambled by the punters. According to unconfirmed reports, the total amount gambled this year might have crossed Rs1,000 crore. Despite crackdown by the police at various places, prohibitory orders and the risk of Covid-19 turning into a superspreader at the places of venues, huge crowds thronged to participate in the age-old practice.

Based on the colour of the rooster and predictions made by the astrologers as per 'Kukkuta Sastra' and quacks, money was put in the betting. Animal rights activists have been shouting from rooftops against the cruelty involved in the fights as the organisers tie blades and knives to the legs of roosters. To cash in on the situation, several techies and management graduates have also forayed into breeding roosters and training them on how to fight by giving them a rich diet for months which included almonds, cashew nuts, boiled eggs and meat with regular checkup by veterinary doctors.

Aseel breed roosters were high in demand. An estimated two lakh to three lakh roosters were deployed in the fights.

Cockfights attract the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Cockfights were organised at Razole, Bhimavaram, Palakollu, Jangareddygudem, Ravulapalem, Rajanagaram, TP Gudem, Mandapeta, Koyyur, Gudivada, Kaikallur and Nandigama spread over East and West Godavari and Krishna districts. The game is also popular in parts of Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.