Indian court bans bullfights after charges of cruelty

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Tuesday, August 07, 2007 5:27 AM

[AntiFurSociety] Indian court bans bullfights after charges of cruelty

 

 

 

Reuters

Published: Saturday, July 28, 2007

NEW DELHI -- India's Supreme Court banned on Friday the annual bullfights and

bull races held during harvest festivals in the south Indian state of Tamil

Nadu.

 

In past years, both the fighters and the especially muscular wild bulls would

often be pepped up with large amounts of country liquor before dashing after

each other in the streets to mark Pongal, the harvest festival celebrated every

January.

 

But India's Animal Welfare Board successfully petitioned India's highest court

to ban the ancient sport of jallikattu, saying it was cruel and not in keeping

with what it described as the country's non-violent traditions.

 

Unlike the Spanish version of the sport, the aim is not to kill the bulls but to

dominate and tame them, and pluck away bundles of money or other treats tied to

their specially sharpened horns.

 

Men beat the animals and throw burning chili powder in their eyes, ears and

mouth to enrage them, the Animal Welfare Board said. Fighters and spectators

have been gored or trampled to death, and the number of injured fighters has

often run into the hundreds.

 

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