Illegal cock fights thrive on betting
From Jupinderjit Singh and Ravi Dhaliwal

PATIALA, Feb 27 a In violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), the "nawabi" game of fowl or cock fighting still takes place in Polo Grounds here. Activists of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) today found themselves helpless in stopping the torture on the innocent birds.

A cock fight in progress at the Polo Grounds in Patiala on Sunday. a Photo by Subhash Patialvi
After receiving reports of the illegal activity taking place on select Sundays in the grounds, a Tribune team was today witness to the sadistic pleasure of nearly 300 people. The bleeding wounds of the cocks only increased the enjoyment of the onlookers. That there were no takers for the animal protection was evident from the fact that Mr Mahavir Sharma, Secretary, local chapter of the SPCA, tried in vain to stop the cock fights. He even got a cold-shouldered response from the police who refused to register a case on his complaint.

Mr Sharma said the organisers of cock fighting claimed to have the permission of the district administration for the event. Scrutiny of the papers revealed that permission was granted only for exhibiting the species and not for fights.

Mr Sharma said an animal lover, Mr Manmeet S.P. Singh, a teacher in a reputed school, telephonically informed, him of the unlawful activity. When he reached the Polo Grounds, he was horrified to witness the jubilation of the organisers at beholding that "fight for kill" of the cocks.

Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner and President of the district unit of the SPCA, was unavailable for comments, but his personal staff claimed that no such permission had been given.

Dr Manjit Singh, joint secretary, SPCA, said fowl fighting was a punishable offence under the PCA Act, 1960. He said the SPCA would take up the matter with the administration and the police.

At the venue, one could see hundreds of people coming from far off places like Nabha, Malerkotla, Ambala and even Delhi a all of whom are regulars in the cock fighting circuit. Sources say that there is a vast network involved in cock fighting and betting in the events.

Because of the high stakes involved (bets between Rs 50 and Rs 3000 are placed). Care is taken by the proprietors of cocks to make them a winning breed. The cocks are fed on a varied diet, including almonds, magaj and desi ghee. Besides, the fighter cocks are massaged and their beaks are sharpened on the eve of the event. This ensures that if the cock wins the "bout", the proprietor stands to gain an astronomical price and he sells the cock immediately at the spot.

There are two ways by which a cock losses a bout : one is if a cock goes out of the approximately 35 x 40 feet arena, which is cordoned off by a synthetic rope, and second if a cock turns his back on the opponent and walks away for at least three yards.