A rooster killed its owner during an illegal cockfight in Telangana state, southern India.

The bird had been fitted with a 3-inch knife and impaled the man's groin as it tried to escape the fight.

Satish Thanugula, 45, was rushed to hospital but died from a loss of blood before he could get medical attention on February 23.

The rooster was seized by police and briefly held at Gollapalli police station before being transferred to a poultry farm.

Police officer B Jeevan has said that they are searching for 15 other people who participated in the event.

Cockfighting has been illegal in Indian since 1960.

Police arrested a rooster after it accidentally killed its owner. The rooster, which had been fitted with a three-inch knife, was made to take part in a cockfight in Lothunur village in Jagtial district of Telangana state on February 23.

When the rooster tried to escape during the fight, its owner, Satish Thanugula, 45, tried to grab it. The bird struggled to escape from his tight grip and ended up stabbing his groin seriously. Though Satish was rushed to a hospital, he died from loss of blood before he could get medical attention.

The rooster was arrested and kept at Gollapalli police station for a day. Police tied it up and fed it inside the station and even assigned a constable to look after it. The rooster was later sent to a poultry farm. The police First Information Report mentions the rooster as an accused.

Cockfight is illegal in India and 15 other men had taken part in the event besides Sathish. Complaints have been filed against all of them.

Station House Officer B Jeevan informed that a case has been registered against all 15 who participated in the cockfight. “They will be produced in the court, along with the rooster,” he said.