Dozens gather in Rajanpur village to watch dogs fight

Police express ignorance about the event.

RAJANPUR: Men from Toba Tek Singh, Jalalpur Pirwala, Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur brought their dogs to fights organised in Mithan Kot on Sunday.

Haji Habib Khan’s dog, named Tiger, won the competition. Organiser Ghulam Hussain’s dog, named K-2; Jalalpur Pirwala resident Haji Korrro’s dog Makhan and a Toba Tek Singh man’s dog Daku were declared runners up.

Dogs named Dabu and Moti were also declared successful.

Hussain, a resident of Mithan Kot area, told The Express Tribune that he had been organising the fights every year in December for over a decade. He said he was fond of breeding dogs and seeing them fight. He said most of the participants had become his friends through regular interaction during competitions in the past. “I personally call them and invite them to the event,” he said. He said the number of participants had never been a cause for concern as every year a few strangers would call him up and request permission to  participate.

Haji Korro said he had been participating in such competitions for over 20 years. He said breeding dogs and arranging their fights was a tradition in his family.

A large crowd had gathered at the scene to watch the dogs fight. Naveed Anjum said he had travelled kilometres and come from Rajanpur to watch the fights.  He said he could not afford to breed dogs himself. However, he said, he regularly attended fights organised in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts.

Muhammad Rafiq and Chaudhry Taimur, Mithan Kot residents said there had been extensive publicity for the event. They said banners giving names of the participating dogs had been put up in Mithan Kot and adjoining areas.

Mithan Kot station house officer Muhammad Bilal expressed ignorance about the incident. He said no one had approached the police to seek permission for the event. He said he would order an inquiry and take action if there was evidence of any illegal activity. DCO was not available for comment.

(View Slideshow: Animal abuse - Dog fights in Abbottabad)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2011.