(IN): Rampaging bulls wreak havoc in TN

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*Rampaging bulls wreak havoc in TN*

 

Vikram Chowdhary

Thursday, January 17, 2008 (Sangrur)

At least 129 people were gored by rampaging bulls during the revival of

Jallikattu, a traditional sport of taming the animals held at two places in

Tamil Nadu, a day after the Supreme Court lifted its ban on the event.

 

Eighty persons were injured in Palamedu in the District of Madurai, while 49

persons were injured at Periyasuriyur.

 

The event held as part of the harvest festival Pongal attracts hundreds of

peoples from the neigbouring districts.

 

The two events were the first to be held after the apex court reversed its

order and granted conditional permission following a petition by the state

government.

 

Police sources from Tiruchirappalli said most of the injured at

Periyasuriyur were spectators.

 

*Festival account*

 

Madurai witnessed its first jallikattu this Pongal season, a day after the

SC allowed the sport under conditions

 

While many of the court's guidelines were followed, the cruelty to the bulls

did not seem to have stopped. The real test will be on Thursday, when the

main event takes place.

 

According to guidelines, double barricades separated spectators from bull

tamers. Officials also kept a close tab on the bulls in a bid to check

intoxication. Yet an estimated 80 were injured.

 

S Jawahar, Collector of Madurai said, ''We see whether animals are oiled and

those with sharpened horns are cut short. Forty veterinary doctors are

verifying all the animals, only those certified are given numbers and are

allowed to take part.''

 

Not much changed with cruelty to the bulls. Bull tamers pulled the animals

by the tail and many treated the bulls just like a football and officials

did nothing to stop this.

 

Chinni Krishna, President of Blue Cross of India, ''But the most important

things is that the message we are sending to the new generation every year

that cruelty can be condoned in the name of entertainment and sport. This is

not Tamil culture and I feel ashamed.''

 

While the conduct of jallikattu has certainly improved after the SC's

guidelines, it seems much more needs to be done to prevent cruelty to

animals and to make it more safe for spectators.

 

Thursday`s big event at Alanaganallur could be the acid test which could

determine the future of this controversial sport. (With PTI inputs)

 

 

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