Defying orders, locals conduct jallikattu in Sanambatla village of Chittoor district

TIRUPATI: Despite strict warnings from the police against conducting the traditional bull-taming sport, popularly known as jallikattu, some enthusiastic persons organised the event at Sanambatla village in Chittoor district’s Chandragiri mandal on Sunday.

Meanwhile, several persons, including a scribe sustained injuries during the event held in the morning. Many people arrived from nearby villages, while scores of youngsters from neighbouring districts thronged the village to take part in the sport.

It may be mentioned here that ‘Pasuvula Panduga’ or ‘cattle festival’, the milder version of Tamil Nadu’s jallikattu, has been in vogue in some villages of Chittoor district for the past 150 years. As part of the fest, cattle farmers offered prayers to their village deities before the commencement of the dangerous sport.

According to information reaching here, many participants suffered injuries, while a youngster identified as Rakesh from Dornakambala village sustained severe injuries on his neck when a bull charged at him. He was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance, which was kept ready given the nature of the sport. In the meanwhile, a scribe who was here to cover the event also sustained injuries when a bull attacked him from behind.

“We received information from locals about the conduct of jallikattu and the hospital management also informed us about the severely injured youngster. We will book cases against the organisers against whom stringent action would be taken”, Ramakrishna, SI, Chandragiri, told Deccan Chronicle.

Meanwhile, many youngsters were seen competing with one other to snatch the trophies tied to the horns of bulls, which ran through narrow passages in the village amidst heavy drum beats.

It is alleged that the bulls were given liquor and other intoxicants before the commencement of the sport.