Over 50 injured in ’Jallikattu’ -bull taming sport

mangaloretoday.com

Madurai Jan16, 2014 (PTI): Participants try to hold on to a bull during a bull-taming sport called ’Jallikattu,’ in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Jallikattu is an ancient heroic sporting event of the Tamils played during the harvest festival. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.)

About 50 persons sustained injuries, seven of them seriously, in the ’Jallikattu’ (bull taming sport) held at nearby Alanganallur as part of "Pongal" (harvest festival) today, police said.

 

 

Those injured included bull tamers and audience. The seriously injured were admitted to Government Rajaji hospital, while others were treated as out patients, police said.

A total of 552 bulls, including from the neighbouring districts of Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and Theni, were brought for the sport.

At least 90 persons suffered injuries in the ’Jallikattu’ held yesterday at two villages near Madurai and Tiruchirapalli today.

The event was conducted as per the guidelines of Supreme Court and Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Regulation Act in wake of complaints from animal rights activists about cruelty to the animals.

Authorities had made sure that the bulls were not subjected to harassment and administered intoxicants.

The bulls were medically examined prior to the event and it was also ensured that the bull tamers were not inebriated, they said.