Man killed by armed cock in a cockfight

A spectator, 55, has been killed in a banned cockfight in Andhra Pradesh
The rooster had a sharp blade attached to its leg which sunk into man's abdomen
The gambling activity has been banned by the Supreme Court of India
Despite this, it is still prevalent, particularly around the time of Sankranti festival

A man in India has been killed during a cockfight after a sharp blade tied to a rooster cut his abdomen.



The cockfight took place in Pragadavaram village in West Godavari, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, despite a Supreme Court ban on the practice.

Cockfight organisers tied the razor-sharp blade to the leg of the rooster, police said. A man in India has been killed during a cockfight after a sharp blade died to a rooster cut his abdomen. Pictured: Roosters attack each other during a cockfight as part of Jonbeel festival near Jagiroad on Friday, January 17

The fatal injury was reportedly inflicted as one of the organisers held the animal in his hands, waiting to release it into the arena to fight.

Without warning, the bird suddenly struggled against his grip in a bid for freedom, and the blade fatally pierced the abdomen of a spectator who was standing nearby, inflicting a deep wound.

The victim has been named by local media as Saripalli Venkateswara Rao, 55.

The ban on cockfighting was defied in several areas in East and West Godavari, as part of celebrations for Makar Sankranti, a festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the deity Surya.

Makar Sankranti was this year celebrated on Wednesday, January 15. The ban on cockfighting was defied in several areas in East and West Godavari, as part of celebrations for Makar Sankranti, a festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the deity Surya. Pictured: A rooster bleeds after participating in a cockfight as part of Jonbeel festival near Jagiroad, 47 miles east of Gauhati on Friday

Ten people sustained injury in the village of Kavvagunta in West Godavari District, while two people were injured in Chintam Palli village.

Organisers of the cock fights, called kodipandayam in the Telugu speaking states, continue to host the betting contests, despite a ban on the practice.

The Supreme Court of India has banned cockfighting as a violation of the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Despite this, the activity has remained popular, especially in the rural coast of Andhra Pradesh around the time of the Sankranti festival, with large amount of betting involved. A boy shouts to encourage his rooster during a cockfight near Jagiroad on Friday

In Andhra Pradesh, the fowls are raised at extraordinarily high expenses to brace them for the do–or–die contest.

Proteins and nutrient rich foods like almonds and cashew nuts besides minced mutton and muscle pumping steroids and antibiotics are given for about a year or even longer to raise the prized cocks.



Knockout fights are staged till one bird is either critically injured or dead. Sharp blades are tied to the fighter bird's limbs.
Daily Mail