Police to deploy drones to check cockfights during Sankranti this year in Andhra Pradesh

Police to deploy drones to check cockfights during Sankranti this year in Andhra Pradesh. Many organisers and gamblers have been bound over so far, say police. Special teams to be constituted to enforce the ban on the bloodsport.

The police are preparing to use technology to prevent cockfights during Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh this year.

The banned bloodsport, which has huge patronage in the rural areas, is conducted in a big way during the harvest festival every year.

Since its ban by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in 2016, the police have been trying to enforce it and prevent cruelty towards the birds.

“In the name of fun, cockfights are being organised throughout the year in Krishna, NTR, Eluru and Godavari districts, particularly during Sankranti. Despite the ban, rooster fights are conducted in a big way every year,” says V. Shekar, a native of Penamaluru in Krishna district.

“The lush green fields soak with blood and lakhs of birds die in the battle every year. Amid applause, the villagers enjoy the bloodsport in the orchards. Under the pretext of tradition, cockfight organisers kill the birds in huge numbers during the harvest festival,” says Pusala Jyothsna, an animal lover.

The organisers are making elaborate arrangements to conduct cockfights under floodlights. Arenas are being arranged on the banks of the Krishna and the Godavari in Krishna, Eluru, NTR and other districts.

Realtors, businessmen, NRIs, film stars and celebrities from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and other States attend the cockfight arenas with their families. Some crores of rupees change hands in the bettings conducted at such arenas.