RAHIM YAR KHAN: Another camel fight was organised by some influential farmers of Cholistan in violation of a ban at Chak 144-5-R in Liaquatpur tehsil, 110km from here, on Monday.

The latest event comes only five days after a previous such fight held in Abadpur area of Rahim Yar Khan tehsil.

PML-N MPA Muhammad Islam Aslam, chief guest at the event, told Dawn that police had reached Chak 144-5-R on Sunday night and tried to create hurdles in holding of the event after demolishing camps of camel fighters.

They reached the spot again on Monday and tried to stop the camel fight to show their efficiency, but he intervened and had the activity resumed. He said actually police did not want to stop the event, but sought an assurance that it would not be highlighted in the media.

Aslam claimed there were approximately 10,000 people at the camel fight.

Deputy Commissioner Jamil Ahmed Jamil told this correspondent that he not only had the fight stopped, but had also written a letter to District Police Officer Zeeshan Asghar stating that the camel fight was banned and that it was the duty of police to check and monitor any illegal activity.

The Liaquatpur deputy superintendent of police said Tabassum Shaheed police raided the camel fight event and registered a first information report under sections 5/7/78 of the gambling act, 145 PPC, 3 of anti-animal cruelty act and 6 sound systems regulation ordinance 2015 against 10 nominated and 60 unidentified people.

He said Majeed Katwaal, Bachal Pirhaar, Saifullah, Jamshaid Katwaal, Jamal, Rasheed, Qaisar, Mithu, Wali and Ilyas were among the main organisers of the fight.

Sources said that during the fight some camel owners fixed bets worth hundreds of thousands of rupees on their favourite camels, while the entry fees was Rs400. They said Liaquatpur Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Akhtar Mandhera did not take any action to stop the camel fight despite having received its schedule earlier.

Camel owners prepare their animals throughout the year with a special diet comprising desi ghee, milk, butter, almonds and high-quality seasonal fodder.

Published in Dawn January 24th, 2017