More than 40 people, including 22 bull tamers suffered injuries of varying degrees at the jallikkattu conducted at Thirukkanoorpatti village near here on Sunday. A dozen of them are undergoing treatment at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.
For several years, the St. Antony's Church at Thirukkannoorpatti used to host jallikkattu on the occasion of Pongal wherein hundreds of bulls and tamers vye with one another to parade their skills. The Supreme Court order on jallikkattu hindered conduct of the event for the past three years. Following the mass uprising for conducting the event, the district administration allowed the event this year and the villagers subsequently made arrangements for the show at the Madha Koil Street in the village. The officials ensured that all arrangements were in place to placate the villagers.
While the bull tamers were screened to ascertain their health condition, the veterinarians conducted examinations to ensure that the participatng animals were in their prime of their health ahead of the event. More than 550 bulls from Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Madurai and Theni districts participated in the show this year that also witnessed the registration of 330 youths for the tamers category. More than 300 police personnel were deployed for security arrangements.
While those tamers who excelled in the ring were awarded various prizes including bicycle, lamp, vessels, cots and other items, a lot of participants suffered injjuries while trying to tame the raging bulls that exited the Vaadivasal in anger and agitation. Tempestuous bulls tossed many youths who tried to lunge at them and cling on to the hump to inflict injuries on the tamers and while running amuck ripped some of the spectators as well.
Sources said that more than 40 people suffered injuries and while most of them were treated at the makeshift health care centre at the village itself, over a dozen of the injured were rushed to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital where they are being treated.
