It may sound strange, but seven roosters are currently spending a caged life in the custody of police in Malkangiri and Balasore districts.
According to reports, cock fighting is rampant in the rural areas of the State. On Tuesday, acting on a tip-off, a team from Malkangiri model police station conducted raids at Pedabeda village under Gangala Panchayat.
The police arrested two persons identified as Gangadhar Madkami (37) and Brajakishore Bisoi (36) and seized three roosters, and knives used in cock-fighting. While the accused persons were forwarded to court on Wednesday, the police are yet to release the fowls. It is learnt that the police have engaged a person to take care of the birds.
On the other hand, four roosters inside the cells of Simulia police station in Balasore are sharing the same plight.
Sources said there used to be cock-fighting in the backyard of a person at Manjuripur village under Muruna panchayat on the occasion of every festival. On the occasion of the X-mass holiday on December 25, such cock-fighting was also organised at the same venue.
On the basis of a tip-off, a team from Simulia police station conducted raids at the place and nabbed four persons and seized as many roosters. Later, the police registering a case let the accused persons go with serving notices but kept the birds.
It has been discussed in the locality that the cops have kept the fowls with the intention to satiate their taste buds on the occasion of the New Year’s Day celebrations.