Sankranti Cockfights Transform into Gambling Extravaganzas Across Andhra Pradesh
This year's Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh witnessed traditional cockfighting events morphing into massive gambling spectacles. Organizers openly defied high court directives by staging large-scale fights featuring rampant betting and clear animal cruelty.
Widespread Violations Across Multiple Districts
From rural heartlands to urban outskirts, cockfighting arenas appeared throughout East and West Godavari districts. Krishna, Eluru, and Kakinada regions also hosted numerous events, with Vijayawada seeing significant activity. Betting transactions reached staggering amounts, often running into lakhs and crores of rupees.
Card games flourished alongside the main fights at many venues. Spectators reported visible cruelty toward the birds involved in these contests. Police presence failed to prevent these violations, with officers merely observing the activities without intervention.
Commercialization of Traditional Events
One particularly notable event occurred at Adavi Nekkalam in Eluru district. Bayina Seshagiri and his team reportedly won four Royal Enfield motorcycles after triumphing in a series of cockfights during the three-day Sankranti celebrations.
"These fights resembled commercial tournaments more than traditional festival events," observed spectator Molli Venkata Ramana. "Luxury prizes and packed galleries demonstrated how significant this has become."
Organizers employed innovative methods to facilitate continuous betting. Several venues utilized coins and tokens instead of direct cash transactions to maintain gambling operations.
Elaborate Setups and Political Connections
In West Godavari district, particularly near Bhimavaram and Tadepalligudem, cockfight rings transformed into elaborate fairgrounds. These venues featured LED screens, elevated stages, and designated VIP seating areas.
At Seesali village near Bhimavaram, rooster breeder Gabbar established a cockfighting arena that sold premium "MVIP" tickets. Priced around ₹2,000, these tickets provided privileged viewing positions close to the fighting ring.
Banners and cut-outs depicting prominent political leaders appeared at multiple cockfighting venues. This display drew criticism from observers who noted the politicization of festival traditions.
"When leaders' banners appear alongside open betting activities, it sends an inappropriate message," commented social activist and advocate Karthik Shah.
Complete Disregard for Legal Directives
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had issued clear directions permitting only traditional, non-violent cockfighting without any betting component. Organizers completely ignored these legal requirements during the Sankranti celebrations.
"The high court's orders were entirely disregarded," alleged advocate Hemanth Kumar Alluri from Gudivada in Krishna district. "Police personnel were present but functioned merely as passive onlookers."
No visible attempts occurred to curb illegal betting activities or prevent cruelty to animals throughout the festival period. The transformation of cultural traditions into commercial gambling operations raised significant concerns among observers and activists across the state.
