India: Cock Kills Owner During a cock Fighting Competition

A bizarre incident took place in India where a cock killed its owner during a cock fighting competition.
According to Agence France Presse(AFP) in New Delhi, the rooster, with a 3-inch knife tied to its leg, fluttered in panic and slashed its owner, 45-year-old Thangulla Satish, in his groin last week, The bird was ‘armed’ with a blade to take in its opponent when it accidentally stabbed its owner as it tried to escape the fight.
The fatal incident took place in Karimnagar district of Telangana state earlier this week, local police officer B Jeevan told AFP.
The officer said the deceased was among 16 organisers of the cockfight in the Indian village of Lothunur.
After, the incident, police held the cock briefly at the local police station before sending it to a poultry farm.
According to Jeevan, Satish was injured while he prepared the rooster for a fight. “Satish was hit by the rooster’s knife in his groin and started bleeding heavily,” the officer said, adding that the man died on the way to a hospital.
Local police have since launched a manhunt for the organisers of the event that took place early in the week.
“We are searching for the other 15 people involved in organising the illegal fight,” Jeevan said.
If arrested, the other 15 organisers could face charges of manslaughter, organising a cockfight and illegal betting according to Indian laws.
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Despite being banned in many rural villages in India, cockfight competitions are still common especially during the Hindu festival of Sankranti.
Cocks trained to fight are fitted with sharp objects tied to their legs and spectators bet on the winning bird.