DINDIGUL
A total of 26 persons were injured in the jallikattu held at Ulagampatti village near Thadikombu on Monday as part of St. Antony’s Church festival.
A seriously injured tamer was referred to Dindigul Government Hospital after first aid administered at the medical camp established at the village. His condition is said to be critical.
Fiery bulls that stood in the field for long tossed the youth in the air and chased the tamers in all directions. Some of the bulls gored the tamers near the wall on their way out. Several tamers had to climb the barricades to escape from the charging bulls.
Attractive prizes were offered to owners of fiery bulls. The bull owners on their own announced cash prizes for those who could tame their animals.
To everyone’s surprise, a ram entered the arena along with a bull. It did not allow any tamer to go near the bull. It swung in all directions and charged at the tamers along with the bull. The tamers were struggling to escape from the attack by two animals at a time. When the bull walked out majestically, the ram followed it.
Former Minister I. Periyasamy had donated ₹25,000 for the conduct of the event. Prizes in various forms – silver and gold coins, steel almirahs, bicycles, vessels, steel cots and cash – were given to successful tamers. Dhotis were given to all bull owners.
Around 300 tamers and an equal number of bulls from Dindigul, Natham, Palamedu, Alanganallur, Tiruchi, Madurai, Theni, Tirupur and Vedasandur participated in the event.
Sufficient number of police personnel had been deployed to regulate the crowd. Twenty one veterinary doctors checked the health condition of the bulls before allowing them to enter the arena. Some unruly tamers were evacuated immediately. Tamers were allowed into the arena in batches.
