[IN: Kerala] - Cattle race

[Guest guest]

Friends,

 

Enroute to my recent jungle expedition in Kerala - I had to cross this small

town called Pothundy, in Palakkad District, Kerala (adjoining Nemmara town,

part of Palakkad district). This location is like the base camp to the

Neliyampathy hills.

 

Last week, at around 10pm in the night, there were people running helter

skelter screaming that the Pothundy dam had given way and everyone was going

to die. I took off on the cycle to confirm the claim and landed up face to

face with a scene totally unexpected. There was a motorcade shooing away

people from the roads followed by 15-20 bullock carts racing down the tarred

road. Basically it was a cattle race of a couple of kilometers and with an

event such as that happening late at night, I was suprised to see not a

single policeman anywhere along the way. THey were being mercilessly whipped

with one of the carts crashing into the small valley on the side of the

road.

 

I was told that there is an organization called Nemmara Cattle Racing Club

and they regulary conduct these events with obviously no body to stop them.

 

Can someone having the authority do something about this?

 

This could appear as a localized news.....but I think the authorities need

to focus on a wider angle than just focussing on jalikattu.

 

Thanks, Pablo.