2 dead, 28 injured in jallikattu; 1 dead in protests

Chennai/ Madurai, January 22

Two people were killed and 28 suffered minor injuries during jallikattu in Pudukottai district on Sunday, while a man died due to dehydration in Madurai during protests demanding a 'permanent solution' for holding the sport, police said.

The people injured during the incident in Pudukottai district, where scores of people and several bulls took part, were discharged after providing first-aid, they said.

With an ordinance being promulgated for holding jallikattu, the sport was organised in several parts of the state, including Rapoosal in Pudukottai district.

Police said two persons were killed when they were gored by a bull during jallikattu at Rapoosal in which several bulls were used and many sportsmen took part.

Meanwhile, 48-year-old Chandramohan, from Jaihindpuram, died due to dehydration in Madurai city when he was taking part in the protests along with students and youths demanding a permanent solution for holding jallikattu, police said.

At Tirunelveli, some students, including girls, fainted at a protest venue following which they were given medical treatment, police said.

Protests

The rural bull-taming sport began in parts of Tamil Nadu despite continuing protests for a permanent solution to the problem.

Protests at Madurai’s Alanganallur — which holds the biggest event of the rural sport in the state — has stalled an event that was to be conducted on Sunday, forcing Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, who was to flag off the event, to return, reports said.

“Jallikattu will be held at Alanganallur on a date decided by local people,” the chief minister said in a statement later in the day, after protests refused to allow the event to be held. 

Groups of protesters continued demonstrations at several locations in the state, including the Marina Beach at Chennai, the epicentre of the protests that entered its sixth day on Sunday.

Panneerselvam said: "The state's jallikattu ordinance route is permanent, robust and sustainable, will be made into a law in the coming Assembly session."

The chief minister has said his government will table a law to replace the ordinance in the assembly session that begins on Monday.

Protests were also held in Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul, where Panneerselvam was to inaugurate the sport, forcing him to abandon his plan.

The development comes a day after Governor Vidyasagar Rao promulgated an ordinance that will allow the sport to be conducted.

The ordinance is a state-specific amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act.

Protests however have refused to stand down, as they demand an amendment to the central law.

TN file caveat in SC

The Tamil Nadu government has submitted a caveat in the Supreme Court asking for an opportunity to be heard if its ordinance over Jallikattuis contested.

"We have filed the caveat in the Supreme Court yesterday asking for the state government to be heard in case anyone challenges the ordinance allowing Jallikattu," the government's standing counsel, Yogesh Khanna, said on Saturday.  — Agencies