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 inÂjuÂÂred, 30 were tamers, 11 bull reareÂrs and 8 spectatoÂrs, poÂlice said. Seven youth wÂeÂre referred to the GovÂerÂnÂment Rajaji Hospital in MaÂdurai for serious injuÂries. Collector Dr L.SubrÂamÂaÂnian inaugurated the evÂent at 7.40 am. Revenue and animal husbandry deÂpartment officials ensÂured 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 EurÂopean countries watched the event with much intÂerest 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 reÂmain 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.
