Clashes, recorded dances mar Sankranti spirit

Clashes and `recorded dances' apart from heavy betting in cockfights marred this Sankranti in Coastal Andhra. While crores of rupees are being squandered in cockfighting bettings, the youth in coastal Andhra districts are deriving the heady festival spirit by arranging `recorded dances,' which are another name for erotic dancing. At the holy Prabhalateertham in East Godavari district, some youths had organized a recorded dance on Friday night. On a tip-off the police raided the recorded dance party. But the frenzied youth confronted the police and indulged in heavy stone-throwing. The police beat a hasty retreat. Three policemen are stated to have sustained serious injuries at the dance event. At Krishnavaram in Krishna district, the cockfighting contest spilled over and led to a group clash between two groups of people. Twelve people were injured in the clash. The police entered the scene and admitted the injured to hospitals.