Jallikattu held in village near Palamedu despite SC ban

The sport in Palamedu could not be held as planned due to the apex court order that stayed last week’s notification by the Centre permitting revival of the traditional event. 

Several bulls (first reports said three were released) were unleashed into the arena in the afternoon amid high tension. The agile youths tamed the bulls, witnessed by the locals. Senior police officials rushed to the village to probe the incident. 

The irate villagers of Palamedu burnt an effigy of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the village along with those of three actors associated with its campaign.  

There are seven communities in Palamedu with one bull from each of them taking part in the event every year. The owners took the bulls to the local temple and performed a pooja. Hundreds of Palamedu villagers held black flags, and took out a rally from Palamedu bus stand to vadivasal at Manjamalai thidal (venue). There, 70 to 80 people laid a siege and shouted slogans. 

At Alanganallur, about 3,000 personnel are expected to be deployed on Sunday. Nearly 1000 people formed a human chain on  Saturday morning and later staged a demonstration. 

Police detained Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) party’s state general secretary Rama Ravikumar at Palani on his way to Madurai.