As Sankranti festival kick-starts on Monday, police have increased their vigil suspecting the increase in banned rooster fights and betting associated with it at several parts of the city. The blood-sport, which was confined to rural areas, for the last couple of years, is now spreading among youngsters in the city.
According to police sources, several punters have been luring youngsters to the banned sport.
The punters have been recording videos of the roosters fight and sharing them in WhatsApp groups to lure the youth.
Sources also said that the punters are also informing about the breed of roosters and their capacity to attack and other aspects to entice the youth. The videos of rooster fights are being circulated through various messaging apps, inviting people to take part in the sport on the Sankranti day.
It is learnt that many youth are being attracted towards the banned sport after watching those videos. Among the youth, there are B.Tech graduates, management students, degree and other students.
“Taking part in rooster fight betting has become the latest fad. Moreover, such videos look very attractive to the youth. The idea is to lure them to the venue and then entice them to place bets,” said a senior police officer from the city.
During last Sankranti, several punters reportedly organised cockfights at Arilova, under the patronage of a lawmaker and the police allegedly kept mum. A senior police officer said that the sport was organised not only in Arilova, but also in PM Palem, Kommadi, Pendurthy, Parawada, Peda Gantyada, Old Gajuwaka, Scindia, Simhachalam, Sagar Nagar, Bheemili, Padmanabham and Anandapuram. These areas have now come under scanner, with gangs trying to organise rooster fights. Though there may not be big amounts being placed for bets, organising such game is a crime, he said.
‘Take action’
Senior advocate and president of Forum of Legal Professionals Kuppili Muralidhar on Sunday called upon the law enforcement authorities to strictly implement the direction of the Supreme Court, which banned organising cockfights.
ACP (City Task Force) I. Chittibabu said that the police were prepared to prevent cockfights and they had sent surveillance teams to monitor certain places where the event is reportedly being organised.