Police Destroy Grounds Prepared for Rooster Fights, Seize Knives

Kakinada:Police across Eluru district conducted raids and razed grounds being prepared for organising cockfights, apart from seizing special knives that are tied to the legs of roosters that fight till one of them is killed.

On Saturday, Bhimadole police led by circle inspector U.J. Wilson and sub-inspector Madina Basha destroyed the grounds prepared for cockfights at Pulla village in Eluru district.

Acting on the orders of AP High Court and district superintendent of police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore, police officials commissioned JCBs and tractors for dismantling the temporary sheds and arenas to be used for staging the clash of roosters as part of the annual Sankranti festivities.

Wilson said gambling related to the cockfights, along with Gundata and playing of cards, are destroying families. He exhorted people to instead celebrate the Sankranti along with their family members.

He asked parents to discourage their children from going to deadly rooster fights and other anti-social events. He requested people to inform the police if they find any cockfights or other gambling games by dialling 112.

Police also destroyed the cockfight grounds at Old Ravicharla village in the Nuzvid Rural mandal in Eluru district. Nuzvid Rural circle inspector K. Ramakrishna and sub-inspector Jyothi Basu participated in the raids.

In addition, Nuzvid Town circle inspector Satya Srinivas raided places of cockfight-knife makers and seized 132 knives and arrested one person.

Satya Srinivas asked people not to believe in rumours that cockfighting is being permitted by police. He asserted that police have not given any permission for cockfights or any other gambling events.