18 January 2023 , 14:34
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Two people have died after being attacked by knife-wielding roosters at barbaric cockfighting events in India.
The men both bled to death after being sliced by the blades fixed to terrified birds.
Gande Suryapraksha Rao, 43, was tying the knives to the feet of his cockerel ahead of a fight in Kakinada.
The animal reportedly became spooked by the crowd and stabbed his leg.
He was immediately rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival, reports The New Indian Express.
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Just days later, a spectator at another event in East Godavari also died at the hands of a rooster with a knife.
Each rooster has a blade tied to its leg as they fight to the death (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Padma Raju, 20, was killed after being hit by the bird as it flew into the crowd.
He died on the way to hospital after the bird cut open his hand.
Both deaths are said to have been due to brutal injuries suffered by the knife-clad birds that were spooked before battle.
Cockfighting, which was banned by a Supreme Court in 2018, has seen a slate of criticism from animal lovers and activists who have consistently demanded stricter action be taken against the event.
It has long been a tradition in the country as police struggle to stop the controversial events.
Cockfighting turned fatal for two men after knife-wielding roosters butchered them (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)One attendee said: "Cockfights are the biggest attractions in Godavari and parts of Krishna and Guntur districts during the three-day Sankranti festival."
Bids on the controversial cockfights can range anywhere from £100 (10,000 rupees) to £5000 (500,000 rupees), but the event has been heavily criticised despite its extreme popularity in the region.
Thousands of roosters die each year during the fights.
Last year, a man died when his rooster's blade hit him in the neck as he carried the bird to a fight in the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh.
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Cockfighting is banned in the UK.