With Sankranthi around the corner, the police are on high alert to thwart cock fights taking place on the outskirts of the city.
A Special Operations Teams (SOT) of the Rachakonda and Cyberabad police Commissionerates are already on the job, keeping a watch on the organisers who were previously booked and also keeping a tab on the activities in villages known to conduct the illegal sport.
In the last one week, the Rachakonda police have seized 129 ‘fighter’ cocks from the organisers of the fight and arrested 24 people involved in conducting and participating in it.
Around 10 persons were also bound over as they were previously involved in the crime.
Some of the areas where the activity is rampant are Meerpet, Adibatla, and Malkajgiri, among others.
The Cyberabad police too have formed teams to curb gambling and cock fights. However, the officials are handicapped due to a recent court order.
“We cannot seize the cocks any more as per the court order. Only the organisers can be arrested and the sharp objects used on cocks can be seized. This has led to people openly buying and selling the ‘fighter’ cocks,” said a senior officer of the SOT.
