Eight policemen and few fire and rescue personnel were injured in rioting during an erudhattam organised illegally here on Wednesday at Madakondapalli in Denkankottai. Two vehicles belonging to the police and one of the fire services were damaged.
An irate spectator-mob hurled stones at the skeletal police force that was deployed to disperse a little over 1000 people who had gathered at the venue.
The event was organised without permission from the district administration as part of the Sri Prasanna Venkateswara temple festivities.
Though permission was denied for the event, video footage showed a mass assembly of people at the venue, with barricades erected and banners announcing "Jallikattu" put up by the organisers. Video recordings of the event showed spectators running helter-skelter, several hurling stones at a few policemen who were running for cover.
Collector S. Prabhakar said permission was denied for the erudhattam two days ago, and police were deployed in the village. However, the temple committee had taken permission from the local police, claiming that only the temple festival would be held and not erudhattam.
But a few men had brought in a few cattle and let it run. When police tried to stop it, a 500-strong mob turned violent. Police personnel were deployed at Madakondapalli, and a Superintendent of Police and two Deputy Superintendents were at the spot to ensure peace. Over 30 people had been secured, the Collector told The Hindu .
The incident is the fourth such case of illegal erudhattam organised in the district over the past fortnight. Last week, two bulls and a cow were killed in an erudhattam held without permission here in Rayakottai, leading to a stringent monitoring by the administration.
