The nail biting excitement that gripped this suburb town has become both a pastime and an easy means of making money for the denizens in and around it.
The betting for a single fight between the cock owners would range between 5,000 and 20,000 rupees.
Spectators too are engaged in rounds of bets between themselves.
The irony in the spectacular event is in the day of the week.
Being a Sunday would not deter the enthusiasts who are almost always from the Christian faith.
A typical fight scene will have a cartoon box prop encircling an arena of 4 feet diameter and standing up 1 and half feet from the ground or a large bamboo plaited basket.
The bowl-like enclosure that is created thus becomes a scene of bloodbath between the fighting cocks.
On an average the fighting lasts for as long as two hours interspersed with breaks in between.
The cock that attempts to escape is considered defeated.
If the fight lasts for more than two hours, the contest is adjudged even without winner.
Before a fight the two cocks are weighted and sized to ascertain combat compatibility between them.
Ideally, they should be of the same size and weight.
In case the betting amounts between the two cock owners are not commensurate, the fight would be cancelled and the challenger would look for an appropriate competitor.
The cocks used in this fights are of different variety locally called Taichiek.
They have longer feet and neck without feather on them.
This variety of cocks is not locally available. They are bought from Mizoram.
Some are bough and brought from the valley district of Manipur.
On owner of such graceful cocks said that its price starts from Rs.2,000 and might even go up to a whooping Rs.7,000.For the less unfortunate who cannot afford to buy for themselves may participate by hiring it on lease.
One proud owner of the fighting cock admitted to earning Rs.35,000 in a five fight match lasting for two months.
He is planning to buy for himself yet another fighting cock from Mizoram in the imminent future.
He is reported to be gloating over the fact that his cock has not lost even a single fight.
He claimed to have paid some 6200 rupees for his champion cock from Mizoram.
This pastime and an easy way of earning quick buck attacks right at the heart of ethical treatment of animals.
It should be recalled that Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960 bans gambling with animals.
via Newmai News Network
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