Hyderabad, Jan 12 (NationPress) The animal welfare organization, Humane World for Animals India, has called on the public to refrain from engaging in cockfighting, a cruel and unlawful practice that occurs during Makar Sankranti.

The organization has also urged citizens to report any instances of cockfighting to local law enforcement.

During a cockfight, two roosters are often equipped with razor blades on their spurs and made to fight until one or both die.

This brutal event typically results in the death of at least one of the birds.

Despite being illegal, cockfighting continues in regions such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Odisha.

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, under Section 11(1)(m)(ii), it is illegal to provoke animal fights.

Organizing, managing, or providing a venue for such fights is also a cognizable offense under Section 11(1)(n).

Moreover, cockfighting is often associated with illegal gambling, the sale of illicit alcohol, and child labor, all of which are prohibited.

"It's disturbing that this practice persists; no festival or celebration can justify it. I have witnessed the fear in their eyes and the desperation in their movements, which is heart-wrenching. The birds tremble in terror, some bleeding from prior fights, yet they are forced to engage in combat, utterly bloodied and fighting for their lives," stated Mishi Aggarwal, cruelty response specialist at Humane World for Animals India, in a recent statement.

"This is not entertainment; it's intentional cruelty for gambling and amusement. Every citizen has a duty to speak out, to abstain from participating, and to report anyone involved," she added.

Shreya Paropkari, a legal consultant with the organization, emphasized that cockfighting perpetuates a cycle of violence and exploitation.

The gambling and betting associated with this violent practice can devastate a farmer or laborer's annual income, trapping families in debt and disproportionately affecting women.

Children are often forced into these illegal venues to sell or deliver alcohol and to handle injured birds, normalizing cruelty from a young age.

For over a decade, the organization has been working to eradicate the cruel practice of cockfighting by partnering with law enforcement and local communities to raise awareness about its brutality and illegality.

In 2016, the Andhra Pradesh High Court reiterated the prohibition of cockfights, stating that such events glorify violence and often involve roosters being forced to inflict severe injuries on each other, leading to significant blood loss and serious harm.

The court ruled that these events are illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and contribute to the desensitization of society to the suffering of these animals.