Butting out: Like lambs to the slaughter

Hundreds in Kabirwala turn up to see lambs pitted against each other.

KABIRWALA:

A lamb fight was held in Kabirwala where dozens of animals from three districts were featured in a fighting competition on Monday.

According to spectators, several lambs were featured at the fights and one lamb died while seven fainted as the animals were forced to repeatedly butt heads together in a ferocious competition. “There were three to four people dragging each animal across nearly 10-15 metres and then the animals were made to smash their heads together,” said a spectator Moeen Daood.

Organisers of the event in Bata Kot told reporters that the crowd enjoyed the event tremendously. “It was a novel thing because usually animal fights don’t involve lambs or sheep. Hundreds showed up to see the event and we charged Rs30 to enter the ring to help push the animals,” said Munawwar Khan.

Lambs of three districts were featured in the fight competition and one animal that bore thirty blows was declared the winner.

“They are claiming that no gambling took place even though every time they pit the animals against each other, there was a boy taking bets on which one would fall,” said an eyewitness Zaheer. Animals from Multan, Khanewal and Jhang were featured in the competition and the Akhtar group won 13 contests while the Altaf group came in second with five contests.

Seven contests concluded at a draw decision. Police officials present at the event said that no gambling took place. “It was a harmless festival and the crowd remained excited but there was no wrongdoing,” said Inspector Mubashir Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2012.