In a significant crackdown, police in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district have registered cases against 43 individuals, including a sitting Congress legislator and a former BJP MLA, for their alleged involvement in organising and participating in illegal cockfighting events.
Police Raids Target Illegal Bloodsport in Kepu Village
The incidents unfolded over the weekend in Kepu village, where authorities acted on specific intelligence. On Saturday, December 21, 2025, the Vitla police first booked Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and 16 others. The raid was conducted on a paddy field owned by one Muralidhara Rai, where a crowd had allegedly gathered with roosters equipped with blades for fighting.
Officials reported a tense confrontation at the scene. Ashok Kumar Rai, who was present, is said to have challenged the police, daring them to arrest him or halt the event. Defying the police presence, the cockfighting reportedly continued. Law enforcement subsequently seized 22 roosters and the sharp blades attached to them.
Political Leaders Defy Ban, Cite Tradition
Following the case, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai offered a robust defence of the practice. He claimed that 'Koli anka' (cockfighting) is an integral part of the cultural and religious traditions linked to the Ullalthi shrine, practised for over 800 years. He asserted that the event was part of local vows and involved no betting.
"We sought permission from local officers before the event, and there is nothing that can prevent us from exercising religious freedom. No law bans koli anka," Rai stated, contesting the police's legal basis for intervention.
Second Raid Nets Former BJP MLA and Party Leaders
The police action did not stop there. In a separate but related incident on Sunday morning, December 22, the Vitla police booked former BJP MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, district BJP president Sathish Kumpala, and 25 others for allegedly staging another cockfight in the same village.
This raid also followed credible information. Police seized 20 roosters from the spot. According to the police report, the crowd refused to disperse even after being reminded of the legal ban. The BJP leaders present are accused of provoking the crowd to continue with the fight.
Both cases have been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The police action highlights the ongoing conflict between enforcing animal welfare laws and traditional practices defended by local communities and influential political figures. The events have sparked a debate on cultural rights versus legal prohibitions in the region.
