19 injured in jallikattu

Jallikattu was held at Pottireddipatti village in Namakkal district on Saturday.

A total of 19 bull tamers suffered minor injuries at the jallikattu event held in Pottireddipatti village here on Saturday.

Pottireddipatti is a major jallikattu centre of the western belt.

District Collector M. Asia Mariam inaugurated the event in the presence of Ara Arularasu, Superintendent of Police.

Official sources said that as many as 367 bulls from Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchi districts and other places were released through the vaadivasal and more than 400 uniform-clad bull tamers from across the State attempted to tame them.

While many bulls managed to give a slip to the tamers, some bulls waited patiently at the play field and gave anxious moments to the players.

A few bulls, terrified after the game, ran into the nearby areas.

The 19 injured persons were given first aid by a medical team present at the venue and later referred to the government headquarters hospital, Namakkal town.

Prizes

The players, who managed to tame the bulls, were given cots, fans, silver coins, silver and bronze pots as prizes.

Prizes were also given to the owners of the bulls which managed to give a slip to the players.

Police team led by M. Ramasamy, Additional Superintendent of Police, made elaborate security arrangements and created barricades to ensure that no spectator entered the playing arena.