Police on alert to prevent cockfight in Ganjam

An alert was sounded as police in Ganjam district are on their toes to prevent cockfight gambling during the three-day Makar Sankranti festival that began today.
There is possibility of influx of people from Andhra Pradesh bordering Ganjam and Gajapati distrits to provoke villagers for the game, police officials said.
Cockfight which forms a part of Sankranti celebrations in Andhra Pradesh is prohibited in Odisha.
"We have alerted police in vulnearable areas to keep a watch on cockfight," said SP (Ganjam) Narasingh Bhol. Police cracked down on such a betting a fortnight ago and arrested 11 people near Bhanjanagar, 80 km from here.

Police seized 14 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones and Rs 1,915 from the spot while several others fled the scene.
Cockfight is generally held in villages during the festival. Fights between specially-bred and trained cocks are held in open grounds with hundreds of people watching. People bet on cocks. Knives are tied to cocks' legs and the fight continues till the death of a bird.