RAHIM YAR KHAN: In violation of a ban on animals` fight, a three-day cockfight event concluded on Saturday near Qadirwala Pul Darbar in the jurisdiction of Kot Samaba Town under the alleged patronage of police and innuentialsofthe area.

According to sources, some influential landlords with the connivance of the Kot Samaba police held the cockfighting from Thursday to Saturday. The event attracted hundreds of visitors, including cockerels` owners from Punjab and Sindh.

Police officials in plainclothes were present at the event. Sources said visitors and took gambles on fights.

Cockfighting is a prominent game in the area.

District Police Officers` spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa told Dawn that the police arrested three people and recovered the bet money. He said that some motorcycles of visitors were also impounded. The first information report will be registered against them.

District Livestock Officer Tahir Butt told Dawn that there was only one assistant inspector in the district who checked animals cruelty. He said there was no proper department to monitor animal fights and the assistant inspector had several jobs like vaccination and treatment of animals.

He said ineffective and old laws were also a hurdle against animals` fight because the law only provided a Rs50 fine against the fight. New legislation could save animals from human cruelty, he added.

ROAD ACCIDENT: Four people were killed and 19 others injured when a van collided with a trailer due to fog in Zafarabad on National Highway, some 67 kilometres from Rahim Yar Khan, on Saturday.

According to Rescue 1122, a van was going to Zahirpir from Channi Goth. Rescue personnel shifted the injured to Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital.

The deceased included Arif, 33, of Khan Bela, Nadir, 48, of Alipur, and Haq Nawaz, 55, of Multan.