KHANEWAL/ GUJRANWALA:
As many as 80 people were arrested for arranging bird and animal fights in Khanewal and Gujranwala on Sunday and for betting on them.
In Khanewal, a case was registered against over 200 people for attacking a police team that tried to stop camel fights and betting in Fareedkot village.
Several policemen and journalists were injured in the attack by people gathered to watch a camel fight. Two policemen and two journalists were taken to Khanewal district headquarters (DHQ) hospital with serious injuries. Medical superintendent Rao Ashraf stated that they were now out of danger and would be discharged in a couple of days.
Saddar police have registered the case against 23 named and 200 unidentifeied men under Sections 7/78, 353, 186, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 6 of the ordinance on eradicating torture of animals.
SHO Imran Khursheed said the suspect detained some police officials and television journalists trying to cover the event. He said teargas shells were used to disperse the mob.
Witnesses said the clashes started after announcements made from the village mosque incited the mob to attack the police team.
SI Liaqat told The Express Tribune that before leading a police team to the scene he had requested the organisers to stop the activity. He said he had told them that arranging fights between animals was illegal and that they could be prosecuted for it.
He said he took other officials and raided the fight after they refused to listen to his requests. He said the police team was pelted with bricks and stones.
In Gujranwala, 50 people were arrested for betting on partridges fights held at Industrial Area.
Model Town police seized 51 birds, Rs400,000 betting money and 44 cell phones during the raid.
SP Qayuum Gondal said the raid was carried out following a tip off that a proclaimed offender was hiding in the factory.
It was on reaching the scene that the police team found out about the fights and the betting.
Three injured in clash over first position
Three people were also injured in clashes reported from a bull race held in Dera Ghazi Khan on Sunday.
The clashes started as the owner of the bull declared runner up attacked the jury for perceived partiality.
The jury had held that the bull owned by Akhter Group had crossed the finish line in second position, four seconds after the first position holder – owned by Sufi group. The injured were taken to hospital.
(With additional reporting from our correspondent)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2012.
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