ACJJM demands immediate stopping of cock-fights with gambling

From our Correspondent

TINSUKIA, Feb 15: The illegal practice of cock-fight with gambling among tea-tribe communities has damaged the very social fabric of tea community, asserted activists of Assam Cha Jonogusthee Jatiya Mohasabha (ACJJM). They alleged that this practice had been carried out under the patroge of the district police. They demanded halt to such anti-social and unethical practices. In a memorandum submitted to the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday, the copy of which sent to the Chief Minister along with all MLAs and MPs, Ranjit Bauri and Robin Kurmi, president and general secretary of ACJJM respectively, alleged that the police posts across district, other than Sadiya, collect commission from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 on daily basis from a single venue. They estimated that the police cough-up Rs 30,000-Rs 2,50,000 when cock-fights are organized in 3-10 locations under a single police out post, given 21 out posts in the district, the district police collects a whopping Rs 6,30,000 to Rs 5,25,05,000 from cock-fight and simultaneous gambling alone, they stated in the memorandum. The memorandum further stated that the police had allegedly using village defense party (VDP) employed locally in villages and tea gardens in this illicit business. They regretted that the memorandum submitted earlier fell into deaf ears. While demanding immediate closure of all these immoral acts, the activists sought a high-level inquiry into the police nexus.