Violating the High Court order on cockfights, a few public representatives had participated in the game in many villages allegedly with the tacit support of the police during the Sankranti festivities.
Though the revenue and police officials had announced several strategies to implement the court’s order strictly in every district, no steps were taken to prevent rooster fights during the three-day festival.
Report to court
The government will submit a report to the court on Monday on the measures taken to stop the blood sport, action taken against the organisers, and seizures made during the festival period.
It was alleged that a few police personnel had helped the local political leaders and organisers by passing on information to them on the movements of the police officials.
It was also alleged that the police, who had created awareness on the court orders and campaigned against the cockfights, stayed away from the arenas from January 13 to 15.
Cases booked
The police had booked cases against a few members of the general public under the A.P. Gaming Act and washed their hands off saying they could not stop the banned game as the political leaders entered the scene and there was huge public support.
‘Movements leaked’
“It is a fact that a few police personnel leaked the movements of their bosses to the public representatives and cockfight organisers and paved the way for conducting the game. Officials of other departments were not seen in the villages during the festivities,” a police officer said.
In a few places, the local public representatives reportedly said there would not be any police raids and that the organisers could conduct the game without any fear.
“The police officers might have helped the political leaders due to fear or to maintain law and order in the villages as heavy crowds gathered at the cockfight arenas,” a senior police official admitted.
Farm Animal Protection Humane Society International campaign manager Shreya Paropkari said police personnel were not seen at the cockfight arenas in Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam and other districts during the festival.
‘Many fowls perished’
“Our teams visited the vulnerable places in the coastal districts. Thousands of fowls perished in the fights. The government should take steps to implement the court order,” Ms. Shreya Paropkari said.
