Cock-fight organizers and punters in the twin Godavari districts scorned the directives of the High Court and the police regarding such fights, and stuck to their old ways on the occasion of Sankranthi. They indulged in the banned sport across both the Godavari districts, and the Krishna district.
People who were visiting their native villages for the festival were seen enjoying the cock fights and indulging in betting contests that ran into thousands and lakhs of rupees. The organizers even used small swords in the cock fights.
Betting took place in I-Polavaram, Muramalla, Mummidivaram and Pallamkuru among other places. Politicians, too, showed utter contempt for the order of the court with an MLA named Butchi Babu himself organising the cock-fights in Muramalla.
The arrangements for this year saw tight security by the organizers in place for the fights. While the organizers had set up mini-stadiums for the audiences to watch the fights, only those people who had passes for the event were allowed inside the venue.
Media personnel were barred from entering the arena.
filed in:Courts, Cock Fights, Hyderabad High Court, High Court, Legal, Andhra Pradesh