Pudukkottai: In an unfortunate development, two persons involved in bull taming, were gored to death and at least 50 others, mostly spectators, were injured in a jallikattu event at Rapoosal village, in Pudukkottai district, the native place of State Health Minister Dr C. Vijayabaskar on Sunday, as the first of the bull-taming spectacle unfolded this year post-Pongal following the Tamil Nadu Governor promulgating an ordinance on Saturday evening lifting the ban on the traditional sport.
There were 168 bulls from different parts of the state, which were brought for the event. Dr C. Vijayabaskar flagged off the jallikattu in the district, watched by the School Education Minister, Ma Foi. Pandiyarajan, district collector Mr S Ganesh and others.
Police said the deceased, both bull-tamers, were identified as S. Mohan (30) of Laksmanapatti village and G. Raja (37) of Odukkur village in the district.
The injured were admitted to Government medical college hospital at Pudukkottai, and a few other private hospitals, police added.
Meanwhile, a group of jallikattu enthusiasts placed Dr Vijayabaskar’s effigy on a pier and took out a procession in Pudukkottai town, which triggered tension.
They sought to protest against the State Health minister and the Pudukkottai district administration’s hurried action in holding the jallikattu event today, without taking sufficient precautionary measures.
