IMPHAL: Every Thursday, a crowd would gather around a small ring in a village in Manipur's Thoubal district, cheering at the bloody spectacle of cocks fighting. Police have busted the cock fighting racket after a vigorous five-hour operation on Thursday evening, when a police team, assisted by animal lovers, students and various civil bodies, arrested 23 gamblers and rescued six fighter cocks from Thoubal's Achouba area. The cops also seized 56 vehicles belonging to the gamblers and spectators.
Thoubal district police booked the accused under section 11(1) (n) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, official sources said, adding that other statutes related to gambling might be invoked to tighten the case against he accused.
"We are thankful to Thoubal police for carrying out the operation successfully," managing trustee of People for Animal (PFA), Thoubal, L Biswajeet Meitei told TOI on Saturday. All the arrested persons, seized vehicles, birds, and cages were on Friday produced before a local court which fined the accused under the PCA act, he said.
High stake cock fighting is organized every Thursday at the area where many bird owners and bidders from several parts of the state amalgamate.
"Over Rs 10,000 is bid against each cock in these fights and about 20 per cent of the amount goes to the host, who provides land and seating, and the remaining 80 per cent is given to the winner (bidders). The total bidding amount for one side goes up to Rs 10 lakh per fight," Biswajeet added.
"The cock that retreats from a fight is killed and eaten mercilessly as a punishment for its cowardice by the owner and the losing bidders," he said.
Good fighter cocks that win most matches are expensive and they have to be treated well. A good young bird is sold at Rs 5,000 or above in the grey market. "Cock fighting is an inhumane crime against animals. The poor bird has to fight to stay alive. They sustain several injuries on their eyes, beak, head and throat in each fight," he added.
~toi
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