In a significant crackdown on illegal animal cruelty, the Vittal police station inspector led a team to bust a large-scale cockfighting event in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada. The raid, conducted on Sunday, took place in a paddy field located at Kepu in Bantwal taluk.
Defiant Crowd and Key Instigators Named
Upon arrival, the police found a substantial gathering actively engaged in the prohibited activity. Despite clear warnings from the authorities about the illegal nature of cockfighting and the relevant legal consequences, the assembled crowd refused to disperse. The police identified several individuals who allegedly instigated and encouraged the continuation of the event, preventing it from being shut down.
Those named for abetting the offence include prominent local figures: former MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, landowner Muralidhar Rai, BJP district president Sathish Kumpala, Dayananda Ujiremaru, Hariprasad Yadav, Ashok Shetty of Vittal, and Rajesh Balekallu.
Mass Detentions and Seizures
With adequate security backup, the police team successfully took 20 persons directly involved in the offence into custody. From the spot, law enforcement officials seized crucial evidence, including 20 roosters and the sharp blades that are typically attached to the birds' legs during these brutal fights.
Legal Repercussions Under New Law
A formal case has been registered at the Vittal police station against a total of 27 individuals. The accused include both the alleged instigators and those directly participating in the cockfight. The charges have been framed under multiple sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, specifically sections 189(2), 49, 221, 223, and 190. Additionally, sections 3 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act have been invoked, highlighting the serious nature of the animal cruelty involved in the incident.
This action underscores a strict stance by the Mangaluru police against traditional but illegal practices that involve animal suffering, applying the newer provisions of the country's penal code.
