Police plan to check cockfights; GPS to be used to keep track of grounds
Kakinada: The police of the East and West Godavari region are planning a crackdown on the organisers of cockfights during Sankranti.
To begin with, they are identifying cockfight grounds where such events were held in the past and are likely to be made the venue for next month’s cockfight. “We are cautioning the land owners not to allow cockfights on the grounds and that we will seize such grounds, if there are going to be gambling activities,” the police said.
The SPs of Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Eluru, East and West Godavari districts have already given instructions to the police to crack down oncockfights. Cops are identifying grounds, the makers and sellers of knives tied with prized cocks, past organisers of cockfights and other gambling games like Gundata, card play etc.
West Godavari SP Ravi Prakash told DC that the process for the crackdown started in the districts three days back. “Some 180 persons related to cockfights and other gambling organisers have been identified. Of these, 80 persons were produced before the mandal magistrate and restrained. Stringent action would be taken against the organisers, players, the land owners, cock-knife manufacturers, sellers etc.”
He said all the grounds and locations would be connected with GPS. If any activity is noticed on the grounds or nearby locations, information would instantly reach the police. “The high court instructions will be implemented to curb the cockfights. The survey numbers of the grounds are being collected and if the lands are given to cockfight organisers, action would be taken against them as per law.”
Amalapuram DSP Madhava Reddy said steps are being taken to curb cockfights. Nobody would be spared. The police were identifying the grounds, he said.
Kakinada DSP Ravindranath on Sunday conducted a teleconference with police officials and outlined the plans to curb cockfights. Pithapuram CI YRK Srinivas visited five Villages -- Durgada, Tatiparthi, Chendurti, China Jaggampeta and Kodavali -- and identified probable grounds for cockfights and cautioned the farmers against giving them to the cockfight organisers.
