Fighting cock appears in Indian court over killing his owner

Raja, an Indian rooster will appear in court in India for killing his owner with a knife while attempting to flee an illegal cockfight.

This killing took place on February 23 in the Jagtial district in the Indian state of Telangana.

Raja was brought by his owner Thanugula Satish to a cockfight at the Yellamma temple on the outskirts of Lothunur village in Gollapalli Mandal. Satish affixed a three-inch knife, known as kodi kathi, to his rooster’s leg before sending it into the fighting arena.

Raja attempted to flee the fighting ground but Satish caught him. The knife attached to the cock’s leg pierced the man's groin. Satish bled to death soon after, while en route to the hospital.

The rooster has been cooped up at a local police station since the incident, though no fowl play is suspected.

Raja will soon be produced in court, as part of the evidence in a case against some 15 people who participated in the cockfight.

“We are searching for the other 15 people involved in organizing the illegal fight,” local police officer B. Jeevan said.