Cockfights draw crores of money
Hyderabad With police looking the other way, reportedly under pressure from local politicians, cockfights went on unabated in the twin Godavari districts and elsewhere during the Sankranti festival.
However, police prevented the fights in Rayalaseema region to some extent, and arrested organisers and seizing bet amounts. No arrests were made organising cockfights in the two Godavari districts, but police registered cases on punters in Rayalaseema.
Though, crores of rupees were involved in cockfight bet, only a few thousands were seized in Rayalaseema. No cash was seized in the Godavari districts.
Police who made a big hue and cry during the last one week, actually remained mute spectators during the festival days when the cockfights took place. The fights started in the early hours of Tuesday, with much fanfare in East and West Godavari districts with big bets.
In West Godavari district, the betting was said to be in the order of Rs 250 crore on Tuesday, with I Bhimavaram alone accounting for Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore.
Cockfights were also conducted in Narsapur, Bhimavaram, Palacole, Undi, Denduluru, Jangareddygudem and other places in the district.In East Godavari district, the bettings were estimated to be in the range of Rs 150 crore on Tuesday, the first day of Sankranti festival.
The fights are still going on in Amalapuram, Mummidivaram, Polavaram, Muramalla, Gadilanka, N Kothapalli, Peddauram, Samalkot, Tallarevu , Korukonda, Sitanagaram and other places. As people in Seemandhra are celebrating Kanuma on Thursday, the cockfights will continue for one more day.
Meanwhile, in Rayalaseema, unmindful of the warning of the police, cockfights continued at various places in Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa districts.
Police conducted raids at several places and arrested hundreds of people for organising and betting on the fights. It is estimated that some crores of rupees changed hands during the day.
In Nellore, police arrested as many as 182 persons in connection with cockfights and seized 77 cocks and Rs 51,000 from them on Wednesday.
According to SP PVS Ramakrishna, police were able to prevent cockfights to a large extent in the district by registering bind-over cases against 50 persons as a precautionary measure.
In Chittoor district, police went round villages announcing severe action those involved in cockfights. This discouraged several organisers from conducting the sport.
In Palasamudram village, police got a tip-off about cockfights being organised there, but by the time they reached the place, organisers and punters fled. Similarly, in Gantauru of BN Kandriga, police conducted a raid, but the participants fled leaving behind four cocks and Rs 4,500 cash.
News Posted: 16 January, 2014
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