Hyderabad: Police apprehended 22 people during an Adibatla cockfighting raid and seized property valued at about ₹35 lakh, including cash, roosters, knives and vehicles. The Commissioner’s Task Force and Adibatla Police conducted the joint operation behind the RTO office at Manneguda.
The Shamshabad Zone Task Force acted on credible information about alleged cockfighting and gambling within Adibatla Police Station limits. During the raid, police found roosters and people allegedly participating in betting and gambling activities. Officers apprehended 22 people at the premises.
Police seized ₹3,60,510 in cash. They also recovered 31 live roosters allegedly used for betting, valued at ₹9.30 lakh. Additionally, officers seized 146 cock knives, 20 smartphones and a score notebook. They also took three cars and three two-wheelers into custody.
Police estimated the combined value of the seized property at ₹35 lakh. According to police, the organisers had operated from an old poultry farm and reared roosters specifically for cockfighting.
Police alleged that the organisers invited gamblers from Andhra Pradesh and other places. They also allegedly provided lunch and made other arrangements for participants.
The organisers had formed teams to conduct cockfights and gambling activities, including card games, police said. Meanwhile, the main organiser and the landowner remained absconding after the operation.
Police said the 22 apprehended people had allegedly participated in Kodi Pandalu, or cockfighting, and other gambling activities for money.
Adibatla cockfighting raid leads to vehicle seizures
Among the seized cars, police listed an Ertiga bearing registration number AP29 LH 9523. They also seized an MG vehicle bearing TS 07 AB 5778 and an Audi bearing TS 07 FY 2399.
Furthermore, police took three two-wheelers bearing registration numbers TG 07 G 4528, TS 08 CU 4514 and TS 07 EM 0342. The cash, mobile phones, vehicles and other seized material remained part of the case property.
After the Adibatla cockfighting raid, the Task Force handed the apprehended persons and seized material to the Adibatla Station House Officer. Adibatla Police took up further investigation.
Police said the Shamshabad Zone Task Force received credible information about gambling at the location. Acting on the information, the team joined Adibatla Police and raided the premises. Officers allegedly found people participating in cockfighting and gambling for money.
The operation involved Shamshabad Zone Inspector D. Krishna Mohan and Sub-Inspectors K. Mansoor Ali and N. Narasinga Rao. Staff of the Shamshabad Zone Task Force and Adibatla Police also participated.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police K.S. Rao of the Commissioner’s Task Force, Rajendranagar and Shamshabad Zones, issued the press note. Police also advised the public to avoid gambling, cockfighting and other anti-social activities.
They said organised gambling and cockfighting could disturb public peace and cause inconvenience to residents. Such activities could also create law-and-order problems in surrounding areas, police added.
Authorities asked residents who noticed such activities not to confront the participants. Instead, they advised people to immediately inform police so officers could take appropriate legal action.
Police also sought public cooperation to maintain safety, peace and tranquillity in local communities.