Forty-nine persons and three bulls sustained injuries at the jallikattu in Palamedu, where the event was organised after two years with great fervour on Thursday. As many as 354 bulls and around 1,000 bull-tamers participated in the event.
Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao, who oversaw safety arrangement, however, said that none was grievously injured, including the bulls. Officials said that seven persons were referred to hospitals after being administered first-aid.
M. Balachandran, Joint Director (Madurai)2, Animal Husbandry Department, said that the three bulls incurred minor injuries at the collection point after they exited the arena, reportedly due to inappropriate handling by the owners while taking them away from the venue.
Earlier, people started gathering on both sides of the vast Manjamalai river bed, which acts as the jallikattu arena in Palamedu, which is also home to the oldest permanent vaadivasal structure in the region.
As a mark of gratitude to the students who participated in the State-wide protests that eventually led to passing of legislation to overcome the ban, a separate gallery was erected for the students by the Palamedu Grama Podhu Mahalingaswamy Madathu Committee, which is in-charge of organising the event.
