Hours after the Supreme Court cleared the conduct of jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, the event was held amidst tight security at Palamedu in Madurai district.
Eighty-three persons were injured, 14 of them seriously, in the six-hour-long native sport in which unarmed men attempted to tame raging bulls. The entire event was videographed by the police, the district administration and animal rights activists, as directed by the court.
Thousands of people, including foreign nationals, thronged the venue to witness the traditional event that is part of the Pongal celebrations. Those injured critically were referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital here. A woman spectator, Chinna Ponnu (40), was injured as a bull ran helter-skelter on being chased by a huge mob. The Primary Health Centre in Palamedu was overflowing with patients late in the evening.
Besides Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) Sanjeev Kumar, Madurai Collector S.S. Jawahar and Superintendent of Police T.S. Anbu, representatives from the Animal Welfare Board of India and Blue Cross were present. For the first time, cameras mounted on large cranes swung across the arena to capture the events.
A total of 397 bulls and 339 registered tamers participated in the event. Fourteen bulls were rejected on medical grounds.
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