Tamil Nadu: Two Killed By Bulls During Jallikattu Event in Sivaganga

Two persons, including a minor, were gored to death by bulls during a Jallikattu event in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district on Wednesday. The victims were not participants, rather they were a part of the spectating crowd.

According to a NDTV report, the bulls ran into the victims during the event, leaving them with fatal injuries.

The controversial bull-taming sport, part of Tamil Nadu’s traditions during the festival of Pongal, has been the center of several legal battles and debates now. However, it is a popular sport in the state. The winner is decided by the duration a tamer holds on the hump of the bull.

In fact, several animal rights organisations have also asked to impose a ban on the sport, stating that Jallikattu can be dangerous for both the bull and the participants.

The bull-taming sport was first banned in 2006 on the basis of an order from the Madras High Court. Later in 2014, the Supreme Court also banned the sport on grounds of animal cruelty. The state government then introduced amendments to the law which governs the popular sport. This, reportedly, proved as a starter of another series of legal battle as the animal rights groups were also challenging the Legislation in the apex court.

In the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government argued that Jallikattu is “not merely an act of entertainment or amusement but an event with great historic, cultural and religious value”.

Last year, the apex court upheld the state government’s law, which allows the Jallikattu events to take place. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph said that the judiciary cannot have a different perspective when the legislature has declared the bull-taming sport to be a part of Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage.

The court further said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, itself “substantially minimises cruelty to animals in sports”.

The act defines several measures required to ensure the safety and welfare of the bulls, such as proper feeding and water consumption, ban on use of any sharp objects or chemicals on them, among others.