BARIPADA: Come Sankranti, this part of north Odisha is all set to raise a toast to roosters. And though there is nothing attractive about the bloodsport in which cocks get wounded and killed, that is unlikely to prevent betting on the sport. Throwing caution to the wind and ignoring police warning, organisers have, in the last couple of weeks, started buying fighter cocks. Contests are held across the district for which roosters are bred and trained by farmers. They fetch a minimum of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000. A good breed can cost even more. A local Gopalkrushna Hatial said a fighter cock was sold at Rs 34,000 at Raghdha, which hogs limelight every year due to cock fights. People of this area spend lakhs of rupees in Khadia (gambling) over cock fights. “The price of a cock depends on its ability and past records,” he said. The cock fights start from early December and culminate with Makar Sankranti in mid-January. Locals said the cocks are fed almonds, cashew nuts, millets and wheat grains to make them strong for the tough battles they have to fight. The fights between the specially-bred and trained cocks are organised on sprawling fields with thousands watching the spectacle. Blades, three to four-inch long, or sharp knives, are tied to the cock’s legs and the fight continues till one of the two cocks dies. Such is the craze for it, cock fights are also organised at night under floodlights.And the practice prevails although it has been termed illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. DFO Bijay Kumar Panda said in case of complaints regarding cock fights, police are informed who carry out raids and stop the illegal activities.
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