Chandigarh: Punjab police have filed a case against unknown persons for organising dog fights, illegal under the law on prevention of cruelty to animals but apparently a high-stakes blood sport not uncommon in urban pockets of the state.

The move came after posters seeking entries for a similar event surfaced in a town in Moga district.

A senior police officer could not, however, recall a case being registered against organised dog fights.

The anonymous posters that appeared in Nihal Singh Wala, around 170km from Chandigarh, had sought entries for the event scheduled for Friday. "The posters in Gurmukhi carried two cellphone numbers and mentioned Rs 500 as entry fee. While no location was given, the posters said the event would be held within 2-3km of the town," said an officer.

Sources said someone alerted Union minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, whose office got in touch with the Moga deputy commissioner's office. A complaint was later filed by Nihal Singh Wala veterinary officer Sukhwinder Singh.

"So far, we haven't got any information on whether any such fight took place," said an officer at Nihal Singh Wala police station.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, inciting or putting animals to fight and placing bets on such fights are illegal. First-time offenders can be fined, but a second offence can lead to jail for three months.

Police sources said dogfighting was regular at farmhouses in Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Mansa and Hoshiarpur. There are also reports of high-stakes betting on dog fights in Sirsa, Hisar, Jhajjar and Gurgaon in Haryana.

"Action couldn't be taken earlier because there were no complaints. This time we have got something to act upon," a police officer said. "The fights are usually held very early in the morning or late in the night. The bets could vary from Rs 1 lakh to as high as Rs 20 lakh."

Breeds like Pit bulls, bulldogs, the Indian mastiff and the Pakistan Bully are generally reared for such fights that often end in the loser's death.

"The animals are kept in dark rooms, the tails and ears are chopped off and days before the fight they are starved to increase aggression," a Chandigarh-based activist said.