Jallikattu ban: Alanganallur a fortress of cops now

Madurai: Alanganallur, the epicentre of Jallikattu the traditional sport held on Maatu Pongal Day, looks like a fortress with more than 1,000 policemen guarding the tiny village to ensure that villagers don’t defy the Supreme Court ban by conducting Jallikattu.

Madurai police have erected barricades around the ‘Vaadivasal’ (entrance through which the bulls enter the track) and have also deployed police personnel outside the residences of bull owners.

They also got 107 bull tamers to sign a bond promising they won’t participate in the event, if held, defying the ban.

More than 2,000 police deployed in villages
The police force has been deployed with redoubled strength — both in uniform and plainclothes — in Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram, which are places globally know for the conduct of jallikattu during the Pongal festival. The local people are trying to find ways to pull the wool over the eyes of police and go ahead with the conduct of impromptu jallikattu to satisfy the demand that has picked up enormously this year.

All the Vadivasals (the entry point of the bulls into the arena) have been blocked with barricades and a wall of police personnel guard them. Every bull in the three villages with the potential to run in the jallikattu arena now has a policeman standing next to it and keeping a close watch on its movements.

Bull fighters among the police have been identified by the department and asked to come for special duty to these villages with a view to capture the bull that may be let surreptitiously into the arena.

"The police from other districts have already mingled with the locals in mufti to collect vital information from the villagers so that we can prevent jallikattu enthusiasts from mobilising the bulls," said a police source.

The five major road routes including Thanichiyam main road, sugar mill road, Palamedu road to Alanganallur village are being guarded by police. Even the othayadi pathi (small roads) used by farmers for transportation of agricultural products have also been brought under the police scanner.

"We are not against conducting jallikattu, but we have to obey the orders of the court which has temporarily banned the sport," said a senior police officer on the request of anonymity.

The police and revenue officials have also executed bounds under section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for keeping peace for six months from around 200 people who were suspected to mobilise youths for conducting jallikattu. "The police have also received a written statement from us declaring that we wouldn't send our bulls for the event," said a bull owner from Avaniyapuram where jallikattu would first be organised on January 14 each year when the sport was permitted.

"We have explained the legal position to the villagers and they have also assured to cooperate with us. We have also mobilised sufficient police forces for deployment as per requirements in these villages," SP, Vijayendra S Bidari told Deccan Chronicle.

Meanwhile, villagers from Alanganallur have decided to organize a rail roko on Saturday and hoist black flags in their homes condemning the apex court on Saturday. Some youths are also said to be secretly planning to conduct the event.

Avaniyapuram shops closed to condemn centre on jallikattu
All the shops on Avaniyapuram near Madurai where the first jallikattu event would be organised on Thai pongal as per tradition, downed their shutters condemning the central Government for not taken steps to conduct the sport on Friday.

Various forums also organised a protest in Avaniyapuram on the same issue. Nearly 500 youths took out rally at various places in Madurai city and 200 more youths went on a bike rally from Madurai to Alanganallur.  Actor turned MLA Karunas also participated in the protest in Madurai.