A total of 25 persons – 20 spectators and five tamers – sustained minor injuries in the ‘jallikattu’ held as part of a temple festival celebrations at Kulathur near here on Saturday.
Medical and para-medical personnel attented on them. Five of the injured have been shifted to the government headquarters hospitals in Tiruchi and Pudukottai.
M. Sundararajan, coordinator for 108 Ambulance, said the condition of those referred to government hospitals was stable.
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A total of 330 bulls from Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Madurai, Dindigul, Salem, Namakkal, Sivagangai and Pudukottai were brought for the event which lasted for about three-and-a-half hours.
All precautionary measures were taken. The ground was completely covered with coir pith to prevent or minimise injury for tamers during the course of a fall. Tight police bandobust was also provided to check the entry of spectators into the grounds.
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“Prizes sponsored by individuals and institutions attracted the youth to participate in the event,” said O. Karthi Prabhakaran, organiser of the jallikattu.
Salai S. Chakrapani, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravi and P. Rajasekaran, state president, said norms stipulated by the Supreme Court were strictly adhered to during the event. Those who attempted to tame the bull by catching its tail were de-barred from the contest.
Officials led by C. Manoharan, District Collector, and E.S. Uma, Superintendent of Police, supervised the proceedings and security arrangements at the venue.