Police asked to ensure security

With SC giving its nod for ‘jallikattu’, law enforcers have been instructed to take adequate security measures for the traditional event to be held at different places in the district in connection with Pongal festival.

In addition to drawing up detailed security arrangements for the bull-taming sport to be held at chosen villages, law enforcers have been asked to liaise with district administration and other departments to ensure that the guidelines issued by the court and the State government were strictly adhered to.

In Tiruchi district, ‘jallikattu’ would be organised at Periya Suriyur village (January 15), Avarankadu Palakurichi (January 16), Pothamettupatti (January 18), and L.Abishekapuram near Lalgudi (February 3).

Law enforcers have also been asked to keep a close vigil in communally sensitive and hypersensitive areas and make sure that nothing untoward happened during the sports and games activities to be organised in connection with the Pongal festivities.

Meanwhile, Collector Jayashree Muralidharan chaired a meeting on Thursday in connection with ‘jallikattu’ events to be held at four places in the district. She instructed police and revenue officials besides organisers of ‘jallikattu’, who took part in the meeting, to ensure that guidelines issued by the Supreme Court for the bull-taming sport were scrupulously followed.

Eligibility certificate from a registered veterinary doctor should be obtained for every bull taking part in the event and another certificate to certify that performance enhancing drugs were not administered to them.

A medical team with necessary paraphernalia should be deployed at every place where jallikattu was to be organised and a complete list containing name, address, and other information about each bull tamer participating in the event should be submitted to the Collector. Elaborate security measure should be put in place and an Executive Magistrate should also form part of the bandobust arrangement to monitor and ensure that the event takes place as per the guidelines, she said.