Trichy: A bevy of cockfight enthusiasts watched with keen eyes as more than 500 roosters squared up to each other in rooster duels that made a comeback after a gap of five years to Poolamvalasu village in Karur district on Friday.Though the organisers said only 500 roosters were allowed to take part in the event, spectators refuted the claim stating the number could be around 2,000. The three-day event, which is expected to see double the number of roosters in coming days, was entirely stage managed to avert any eventuality this time.The deadly game had in 2014 claimed two lives after they received cuts by the poisoned razor-sharp knives of the fighter roosters. The incident engendered a controversy which forced the district administration into imposing a ban on future events in popular venues.Organisers of the event in Poolamvalasu, however, managed to obtain the permission this year from the high court. The administration laid down a 21-point regulation that should be strictly followed to hold events. The regulation warranted a thorough pre medical examination by a team from the animal husbandry before letting them loose in the event.“Roosters were subjected to doping test to check if they have been given alcohol. Only healthy roosters without any injuries could take part in the event,” said a veterinarian, who was part of the medical team.S Rajendran from the village, who was happy that the duels are finally back, lamented that they were not able to take pictures of the roosters in action. “After a customary inauguration of the event in the morning, not only media but spectators were not allowed to use mobile phones or camera to click pictures. Besides, there was strict monitoring by organising committee on any such activity by using drone cameras,” said A Dheeran, another spectator.M Anandhan, organizer of the event, who had petitioned the high court seeking permission to conduct the event, said that Friday was the real Pongal festival for them. “Rooster duels were organized as part of Mahamariamman temple worshipping during Pongal. But that could not be performed over the past five years. We are expecting large crowd in the next two days,” he said.Asked about the prize money, he said that they would announce the amount for the winning roosters on the final day, adding that transport minister M R Vijayabaskar was supposed to have inaugurated the event.Karur collector T Anbazhagan said that it is a private event and district administration was only moderating it to ensure that rules laid down for the event are strictly adhered to. There was adequate arrangement in place apart from sizeable police protection and members from animal husbandry department, he said. Close to 200 policemen were deployed in the place along with three DSP and other ranks to ensure law and order at the event venue.

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