Thousands watch bloody bullfight

Chandrapur: A large crowd thronged into an open field near Nehru Nagar locality here to watch bloody bullfight on Friday afternoon. The dangerous sport which had claimed lives of several participating bulls and often left onlookers with serious injuries, continues unabated despite ban on such events.
The thrilling event of bulls locking horn is held every year by Nandi (milkman) community here to mark Bali Pratipada during Diwali.Half a dozen sturdy bulls painted in bright colours were brought to the arena for the fight. Contending bulls were then given country liquor to drink and the boozed up animals were made to clash with each other while the people enjoyed the fight, betting on them.
The bulls charge and butts each other and the bloody fight continues till one of them limps always sustaining serious injuries. But bulls are not the only one who are in danger. The bloody sport has often taken its toll on onlookers. There had been many occasion when a near stampede-like situation occurred and people sustained injuries, sometimes of serious nature.
“It is a dangerous game, but it brings thrill and enjoyment to deprived people during festivities. The owners of the animals rear the buffalos for fight to make quick money and for the sake of honour. While the fights are a prestige issue for them, the owners of winning bull also makes handy sum as share of every bet on his animal goes to him,” said one of the betters at the scene.
At least half a dozen bulls were made to fight in pairs on Friday and crowd of over thousand watched the thrilling clash. The final clash was drawn between Rawdi and Khiladi. It was Rawdi who emerged victorious while injured Khiladi fled, limping.