Tradition Vs Law: Masssive protests for Jallikattu, police baton charge

Several youths on Monday made an unsuccessful bid to tame bulls released on the roads at Alanganallur by miscreants as police resorted to baton charge to disperse them even as a crowd gathered expecting Jallikattu to be conducted.

Police personnel in large numbers, including from armed reserve and special battalions from other districts, were deployed at Alanganallur in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu as hundreds of youths from different parts of the State started thronging the panchayat town after news spread that despite the Supreme Court ban, Jallikattu would be conducted at venues where the event was held previously.

With this year’s celebrations coming to an end on Monday with Kaanum Pongal, Alanganallur that is famous all around the world for Jallikattu, lived up to its reputation and enthralled people, with young men testing their might against four bulls, despite the Supreme Court ban.

On Monday morning, the organisers brought four temple bulls to the ground situated at the centre of the village. As per tradition, special poojas were performed for the decorated bulls. The villagers had taken up every vantage point to witness the ceremony.Then the bulls were released one by one.

Thousands of people on Monday took to the streets in Madurai's Alanganallur town in Tamil Nadu protesting a ban against Jallikattu, the ancient and popular bull-taming sport.

Speaking to reporters, Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said the event should not be seen as defying the Supreme Court order but as an expression of people's feelings.