Salem: Villagers of Koolamedu near Athur in Salem district refused to play ball with officials to hold jallikattu on Sunday, demanding a permanent solution to the imbroglio.
After the villagers prevented officials from entering the venue prepared hurriedly overnight, the bull taming sport was then shifted to a different place. Following the promulgation of the ordinance, the state government decided to hold the traditional sport in Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and other places on Sunday.
Thus, the venue at Koolamedu, popular for its conduct of jallikattu, was prepared overnight by cleaning the ground. However, the protestors prevented the officials when they arrived on Sunday morning, from holding the sport until a permanent solution was found. The officials were not let into the village, prompting them to go back. With simmering tension, protestors also attempted to burn the effigy of some Peta officials and observed a mock mourning. The bulls were then unleashed at Malayampatty village near Athur.
