An animal protection organization, Humane World for Animals India, has urged citizens to refrain from engaging in cockfighting, which is considered a form of illegal animal cruelty during Makar Sankranti. The organization has also encouraged people to report any instances of cockfighting to local authorities. Cockfighting involves two roosters equipped with razor blades on their spurs, forced to fight each other until death.
Still prevalent in certain regions like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Odisha, cockfighting is punishable under various laws. According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, inciting animal fights is illegal, and organizing or facilitating such events is a cognizable offense. These events are often associated with illegal gambling, sale of illicit liquor, and child labor, all of which are prohibited practices.
Mishi Aggarwal, a cruelty response specialist at Humane World for Animals India, expressed concern over the cruelty inflicted on birds during cockfighting events. She emphasized that such activities are not entertainment but deliberate cruelty for gambling and amusement. The organization, along with legal consultant Shreya Paropkari, highlighted how cockfighting perpetuates a cycle of violence and exploitation, impacting farmers, laborers, and their families.
Humane World for Animals India has been actively working to end the practice of cockfighting by collaborating with law enforcement and local communities to raise awareness about its cruelty and illegality. In 2016, the Andhra Pradesh High Court reinforced the ban on cockfights, citing the glorification of violence and the severe harm inflicted on the animals. The court emphasized that such events desensitize people to the suffering of these animals, further emphasizing the need to combat this inhumane practice.
