It’s not covid which is disturbing the peace of this neighbourhood but other man-made troubles. Come afternoon, the residents of this building are pained by the screams of injured cocks and pigeons, made to fight and race, for the joy of a few youth.
Madhuri (49) (name changed on request), a resident of Swastik Road, Shantinagar, alleges that the son of the building’s owner’s, conducts fights with gamecocks, a bloodsport which is illegal, and pigeon racing too, with betting involved.
Madhuri stays in the three-storied building which is near Rajarajeshwari temple and says this is an everyday affair.

“Youths aged between 17 and 20 gather on the terrace of that building and indulge in pigeon racing and brutal cock fights, both organised as tournaments among the youths, with betting involved,” Madhuri told BM.
Four families live in the building and the owner has a house on the second floor, where he lives with his son. Lohith, the son, keeps cages on the terrace and breeds at least 20 pigeons and eight gamecocks for this business alone. “Recently, during a fight, four of Lohith’s gamecocks were killed. He and his two friends, Ayapppa and Shoaib, used to tie blades on the rooster’s legs and set them up for a fight with another rooster.
During practice sessions and tournaments, they would also feed the gamecocks and pigeons with alcohol and some chemical drugs to boost their fighting and racing skills. On Monday, there was a pigeon racing tournament and Lohith and his team lost the bet. The betting happens with each participant contributing at least Rs 20,000 for a winning sum of Rs 1 lakh,” Madhuri told BM.
The nuisance starts around late afternoon with the screeching sounds of roosters crying out in pain as the knives tied to their feet cut into them as they are forced to fight each other.
Many neighbours, including two families have raised objections and requested them not to indulge in such practices of animal cruelty. Another family residing close-by has tipped off CUPA and a few animal activists in the city who are in the process of inspecting the spot and rescuing the birds, said Madhuri. Whenever neighbours protest and inform the police or activists, the sporting activities come to a stop, only to be resumed in a few days with impunity.
“At one instance, one of the boys stripped his trousers and flashed me when I made a big noise about the cruel bloodsport,” said Madhuri.

Madhuri later contacted a senior animal activist Harish KB and filed a complaint with him.

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