Tamil Nadu: 2 dead, 28 injured in Jallikattu at Pudukottai; 1 dead in Madurai protests

CHENNAI: Two persons were killed and 28 suffered minor injuries during jallikattu in Pudukottai district today, 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. What Jallikattu is all about:

• Jallikattu has been a cultural tradition in Tamil Nadu for close to 4,000 years. It is organised during the mid-January harvest festival, Pongal. In the blood sport, an enraged bull is unleashed —decorated in bright colours and with money tied around its horns into a crowd of people.
• The bull is chased by villagers. Their objective is to hold on to the animal for as long as possible in an effort to tame the animal and seize the money.
• In Jallikattu, a bull vaulter is expected to hang on to the animal’s hump for a stipulated distance or for a minimum of three jumps by the bull.
• Some calves are only reared to grow into strong bulls for taking part in Jallikattu. These animals also get special training at early age to not allow strangers to approach them.
• According to reports, around estimated 17 people were killed and over 1000 were injured during Jallikatu events between 2010 and 2014.

• The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including bullock-cart races.
• Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport.
• The common complaint among the protest leaders was that the Supreme Court had insulted the Tamil culture by disallowing the sport.
• State-wide pro-Jallikattu protests including at the Marina beach erupted on January 17th in Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has approved the jallikattu ordinance on January 21 and the bull taming sport was held at Alaganallur in Madurai and other parts of the state today.