Bull owners had come from the adjacent Nashik and Raigad districts with their animals while local farmers also participated, said a source. mid-day has multiple videos of the mega event. In the arena, the bulls’ owners could be seen wielding heavy wooden sticks to keep the agitated animals under control, and to goad them into attacking each other fiercely, the owners twisted their tails. Such incidents amount to animal cruelty but the cops were nowhere seen in videos and photographs.

‘No bullfighting’

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“The event was organised by Jitesh Patil against whom multiple serious criminal cases have been registered at Wada and Vikramgarh police stations,” said a local, requesting anonymity. However, the organiser Jitesh alias Bunty Patil, a local BJP worker and Palghar district president of Swabhibhan Sangathana, denied the occurrence of bullfighting or distribution of a cash prize.

Screengrabs of clips of the event, which took place at Magathane in Palghar district on Tuesday

“This event was organised by a group of farmers from nearby villages. I was not present at the annual event but nearly 20,000 people came to witness it. There was no bullfighting; indeed, the farmers had brought their bulls to showcase how robust they are to entertain people on the occasion of Diwali,” Patil told mid-day. Sources said that the farmers had brought their bulls to the spot in trucks and the crowd cheered when they entered the venue.

“This is a century-old tradition and we have been carrying forward the legacy of our forefathers. There were multiple restrictions during the pandemic but we still organised this event,” bragged Patil, adding, “Well-maintained and richly decorated bulls win the prize. There was no cash prize. We only give a shawl and trophy to the winners.”

“The trophies were given by Jayesh Patil, who is also a local BJP leader,” he said. Sources added that rich farmers of Palghar and adjacent districts anxiously wait for this event. “This is why they maintain a nutritious diet for their bulls for a year. This is a way they flex their muscles and show how passionately they care about their bulls winning the fight,” said a local.

Jitesh Patil, the organiser of the event (centre), with BJP leader Narayan Rane (left)

“Big landlords ask their farmhands to take extra care of their bulls in the evening after toiling away all day in the fields. Most of these workers are nothing more than bonded labourers. The government must end the menace of bullfighting,” said a source.

‘Creating terror since 2008’

Residents accused Jitesh Patil of raising terror in the area and claimed the cops did not take any action against him. “He has been committing crimes since 2008 when he attacked a local journalist. The first FIR was registered against him at Wada police station under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 326, 504 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Vinod Patil that year,” said a source.

Local BJP leader Jayesh Patil (extreme right) with the winner

“Four other FIRs have been registered at Wada and Vikramgarh police stations. The sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Jawhar taluka has also issued him a show-cause notice to extern him in the area for creating terror in his localities,” said the source. “Had the cops been so prompt in acting against him, this incident would not have taken place. Since he is close to political heavyweights, the Palghar police turn a blind eye,” lamented a local resident.

Activists weigh in

Meanwhile, Vijay Mohnani from Bombay Animal Rights said, “The Supreme Court has already banned the practice but if agencies do not enforce the law, such incidents are bound to take place.” “If the lawbreaker is a politician or supported by one, the cops will naturally turn a blind eye,” he added.

Meet Ashar, cruelty case division legal advisor and manager, PETA India, said, “Animal fights are a criminal, depraved form of amusement that must be relegated to the history books. Animals who are forced to fight suffer deep wounds, broken bones and ultimately fatal injuries.”

“The fights are also a risk to human spectators and society at large. Animal fights violate Sections 3 and 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, which prohibits inciting any animal to fight and organising animal fights,” said Ashar.

“The Supreme Court has allowed only Jalllikattu, PETA has challenged the judgment in its review petition already, and there is no change in the law regarding animal fighting. Any animal fighting is still prohibited and the 2014 order of the Supreme Court still holds good,” underlined Ashar.

Cop Speak

Senior Inspector of Wada police station Suresh Kadam said, “No one approached me with a complaint on this issue. I will ask my team to get the photographs and videos of the alleged bullfight. Based on the evidence, we will take action against the organiser(s).” Sources in the police department told mid-day that the SDPO of Jawhar taluka had initiated the procedure to extern Patil from the area. “But I need to check why he was not externed,” the source said. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Palghar Police Balasaheb Patil said, “It is true that there are multiple FIRs against Jitesh Patil.”