The Dakshina Kannada police in Karnataka booked 43 people, including Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and former BJP MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, for allegedly staging cockfighting, which is legally banned in India, in two separate incidents in the Kepu village over the weekend.
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In the first case, the Vitla police in Dakhina Kannada booked Rai and 16 others for allegedly participating in cockfighting Saturday. The police said they conducted a raid after a tip-off and found that several people gathered in a paddy field owned by one Muralidhara Rai, and roosters were allegedly brought for cockfighting.
However, Ashok Kumar Rai, who was at the spot, allegedly dared the officials to arrest him or to stop the cockfighting. The bloodsport allegedly continued despite the police presence, and the police then seized 22 roosters and blades used for cockfighting.
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Later, Ashok Kumar Rai said cockfighting is part of the culture of the local Ullalthi shrine, which has been practised for 800 years. “Koli anka (cockfighting) is part of the traditional practice as part of the locals’ vows, and no betting is involved in it. We sought permission from local officers before the event, and there is nothing that can prevent us from exercising religious freedom. No law bans koli anka,” he added.
In the second case, the police booked former BJP MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, district BJP president Sathish Kumpala and 25 others Sunday morning after they were allegedly involved in cockfighting in the same village. The Vitla police conducted a raid based on credible information and seized 20 roosters.
The police said the crowd refused to disperse despite being reminded about the ban on cockfighting. The BJP leaders allegedly provoked the crowd to continue the cockfight.
The police filed both cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.