Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Youth killed in jallikattu held at Palamedu

— Photo: S. James

Pongal special: A view of the jallikattu at Palamedu near Madurai on Friday.

MADURAI: One person was killed and over 100 others, including a Sub-Inspector, were injured in jallikattu held at Palamedu near here on Friday.

V. Vijayan (23) of A. Koilpatti, a spectator, was killed when a bull ran into the crowd while trying to get out of the arena. He died on way to hospital.

Sixteen persons, who suffered serious injuries, have been admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here.

The police had to resort to lathi charge many a time to tackle the unruly crowd, which pelted the men in uniform with stones whenever they tried to control them.

In the evening, more than five bulls were stuck in the middle as the way out of the arena was blocked. Soon, some of the animals began to fight with one another.

Representatives from the Animal Welfare Board of India, Blue Cross and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who were present at the venue, left the gallery as repeated representations to the officials to control the boisterous crowd, whose antics resulted in the bulls running helter skelter in fear, went in vain.

P. D. Anima of the Animal Welfare Board of India, Chennai, told The Hindu that the animals underwent torture after they were stuck midway, and started running wildly. They could not be controlled even by the owners. She said security arrangements were not proper.

A. Sukumar, secretary, SPCA, said that arrangements were not proper and the presence of tamers, who had gathered in large numbers near the ‘vaadi vassal,’ (entry point) was among the reasons for the bulls going wild.

The Primary Health Centre at Palamedu was overflowing with patients late in the evening. Revenue and medical officials at the PHC were initially reluctant to give the details of those injured.

One of the bulls, which ran out of the arena, entered the PHC taking the police personnel and the medical team by surprise. Thankfully, nobody was injured, though it took some time for the owners to control the animal.

Madurai Collector N. Mathivanan and Superintendent of Police S. Manohar were present at the venue for some time in the morning.

Earlier, all the animals were subjected to a medical test by a team of veterinary surgeons, led by Regional Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, K. Rajagopal.

A total of 750 bulls registered for the sport, of which 410 qualified. The participants were also asked to undergo a medical check-up. Steps were taken to ensure that the tamers did not carry weapons. The horns of bulls were made blunt.

The participants were given an identification number. The bulls were brought from Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts. Thousands of people, including foreign nationals, thronged the venue to witness the traditional event that is part of Pongal celebrations.

At the jallikattu events organised in Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts a total of 50 youths were injured. Eight persons were injured at an event held at Sooriyur.

They were rushed to the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi.

At the jallikattu at the Sri Neeliamman temple in Iluppur taluk in Pudukottai district, 42 youths, who attempted to tame the bulls, were injured.

Two of them suffered grievous injuries and were admitted to the Government Headquarters Hospital at Pudukottai.

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