Andhra Pradesh: Pandemic serves as deterrent to cockfighting this Sankranti

VISAKHAPATNAM/VIJAYAWADA: What courts, governments and police have been unable to do, Covid-19 seems to have achieved. The pandemic coupled with crop loss has made a significant dent on preparations for cockfights this year. Every year, organisers start preparing arenas for cockfights ahead of the Sankranti fest in January. But pandemic has hit pockets of all.
“There are usually a hundred big arenas and thousand small ones prepared in the twin Godavari districts by January first week.But the picture is completely different this year. Most organisers are not ready to get involved due to a shortage of money,” a cockfight organiser told TOI on condition of anonymity.

Sankranti, the harvest festival, is celebrated with great vigour by farmers. Cockfights are part of festivities organised around this time in East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Visakhapatnam. Bets worth Rs 1,500 crore are placed on the blood sport.
But this year, punters say that the situation is so dire that organisers may have to be confined to very few arenas. Politicians in the Godavari districts, the alleged usual sponsors of cockfights, have donated lakhs in relief works, resulting in them being too cash-strapped for the blood sport this year, says Srinivasa Raju, a farmer from Ravulapalem.
However, training of roosters has been going on in interior villages and rooster sale has begun in Godavari districts. Online sale of roosters is going on since the third week of December, said a rooster trainer.
In Krishna district, rooster demand has seen a sudden spike. The cost of well-trained roosters has reached Rs 35,000 per bird at Aagiripalli. Demand for Nemali, Kaki Dega, Pacha Nemali, Hamsa, Setuva and other local varieties have seen a spike.
“We anticipated poor sales this year due to Covid-19. But many organisers are approaching us. We have limited stock and are prioritising regular customers,” said another rooster trainer from Nekkala Gudem in Krishna district.
Meanwhile, West Godavari police have registered 700 cases, bound over 3,200 people and seized 1,200 rooster knives. “We have already started enforcement activity. We are following court orders. There will be no permission for rooster fights,” said West Godavari SP K Narayan Naik.
East Godavari SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi said that the police will start enforcement in a day or two. “Additional teams will be put in action. Section 144 is already in force. We are creating awareness among the public.”