Jallikattu: 36 injured in bull taming event held in Madurai

Madurai: Thirty-six people were injured, one of them seriously, in a jallikattu event held at Avanipuram in the district amid high security on Sunday, in which more than 900 bulls were used, police said.

All the injured were being treated at the medical camp put up near the venue, police said.

More than 700 bull-tamers participated in the events, which were witnessed by thousands of spectators.

The bull-taming sport was formally inaugurated by Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and District Collector Veeraraghava Rao.

Top officials of the district and police administrations, including Superintendent of Police, were also present at the venue.

Police said all precautionary measures, including mandatory medical tests for bulls and participants as laid down by the state government, were taken before the conduct of the traditional rural sport.

Normally, jallikattu is held as part of the Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu. However, it was not held during Pongal this year due to a Supreme Court ban.

Amid continuing protests over jallikattu ban across the state, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had on 23 January unanimously passed an amendment bill, clearing the path for conducting jallikattu without any hindrance.