PETA India has taken the initiative to seek a ban on buffalo and bulbul fights in Assam by filing a petition with the Gauhati High Court.

After a hiatus of nine years, traditional buffalo and bulbul fights were reinstated during the Magh Bihu festivities earlier this month, following a strict set of Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) approved by the state government.

In 2014, the state government imposed a ban on buffalo and bulbul fights in Assam, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling that prohibited the taming of bulls and bullock-cart races. Subsequently, a year later, both buffalo fights (moh juj) and bulbul bird fights (bulbuli) were officially banned in the state.

Nevertheless, in 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the laws enacted by three states allowing buffalo races and bullock cart races. Responding to this development, the Assam cabinet made a decision on December 8 to permit both buffalo and bulbul fights, subject to stringent Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which were subsequently issued on December 27.

On January 16, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma participated in the buffalo fight at Ahatguri in Morigaon district, and a day earlier, he attended the bulbul fight at Hayagriva Madhav temple in Kamrup district. During these events, he emphasized that they were integral to Assamese culture. Additionally, bullfights were organized in Sivasagar and Nagaon districts, attracting substantial crowds.

On Wednesday, PETA released a statement indicating their action of approaching the Gauhati High Court. This move comes in response to the Assam government's recent decision to permit buffalo and bulbul bird fights. PETA is advocating for the reinstatement of the prohibition on these cruel spectacles, as mentioned in their statement.

“Today, the petitions were listed before Justice Manish Choudhury in the Gauhati High Court and detailed submissions were made by senior advocate, Diganta Das in support of PETA India’s prayer for urgent interim relief prohibiting buffalo and bulbul fights during the pendency of Court proceedings,” the PETA statement said,