Seven seriously hurt in Alanganallur jallikattu
516 tamers took on 588 bulls at the event.
Madurai: The raging bulls that participated in the internationally-famed jallikattu held at Alanganallur in Madurai district on Thursday left 49 injured, 7 of them seriously.
As many as 588 bulls and 516 tamers, both certified by the district administration, wrestled with each other for honour in the ancient Tamil sport, held as part of the Pongal festival, which was closely monitored by animal welfare activists and police and revenue officials.
Of the 49 injured, 30 were tamers, 11 bull rearers and 8 spectators, police said. Seven youth were referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for serious injuries. Collector Dr L.Subramanian inaugurated the event at 7.40 am. Revenue and animal husbandry department officials ensured an orderly jallikattu, subjecting bull tamers and bulls to a series of medical tests.
Of the 549 registered tamers, 33 were rejected as they were found to be either drunk or physically unfit while 7 bulls were rejected on medical grounds. About 80 bulls could not participate due to lack of time as the sport came to a close ten minutes past 2 pm. Double barricading was erected as during the previous years.
Mobile medical teams were pressed into service to handle emergency cases. International tourists from USA, UK, Belgium and several other European countries watched the event with much interest and enthusiasm from the separate gallery provided for them. Actors Vimal and ‘Parotta’ Soori watched the tamers and bulls in action from the VIP gallery.
The annual event passed off without any casualties for the third consecutive year due to the effective implementation of stringent rules and regulations laid by the Supreme Court and the Madras high court.
S.Sivakumar, one of the observers representing the Animal Welfare Board of India, said, “There is an increasing awareness about the court guidelines and there is an improvement in the way the sport is conducted, but harassment caused to the bulls continues.”
He claimed that the bulls were harmed with sticks if they refused to get out of the vaadivasal (entry point) out of fear; in order to make them remain and play within the 30 m-long sporting arena, the tamers irritated them by pulling and even biting their tails; they threw coir on them if they returned to the arena.