With the police going all out to curb cockfights during Sankranti following High Court orders, organisers are finding new ways to escape detection.
Usually, organisers prefer fields and open spaces on the outskirts of the villages where a large number of people can gather to hold cockfights in special rings (bari). Now, many organisers are setting up rings amid residences in the interior parts of the villages.
According to sources, the rings also serve as the backup for the main rings in case of police crackdown during the peak time.
Women apprehensive
However, this has become an issue for the villagers, including women, who would prefer staying away from such banned activities.
“The police generally do not raid interiors of the villages. Even if they do, organisers get the information well in advance and everything will be covered up. Also, the police sometimes ignore the rings in the villages due to various reasons,” M. Venkateswara Rao, resident of a village in Nuzvid mandal, said.
“The politically influential organisers would take the risk of finding the place. Interested candidates bring in their roosters nurtured for months,” a source said.
Huge rings are coming up at venues where celebrations are organised by local legislators. In the guise of holding cockfights without subjecting the birds to cruelty, betting will be organised
Meanwhile, the district administration has formed mandal-level committees comprising police, revenue and other department officials to watch out for violators.
The special teams will keep an eye on the sale of roosters and knives used in cockfighting.
