Protests seeking conduct of Jallikattu

Protests, including 'human chain' demonstration, were today staged by supporters of 'Jallikattu' in parts of the district seeking nod for conduct of the bull taming sport.
About 1,000 persons, including owners of bulls and bull tamers, held hands to form a chain and staged a demonstration at Alanganallur, near here. They also took out a rally from Iyappan temple to Vadivasal, holding black flags, police said.
The protesters also included women.
At Palamedu, near here, hundreds of people, including bull tamers and owners of bulls, staged a demonstration.
They took out a rally from the bus stand to Vadivasal, shouting slogans against the organisation, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They also burnt an effigy of the organisation, police said.

Hundreds of police personnel had been deployed at Alanganallur and Palamedu where jallikattu is hugely popular.

The Supreme Court on January 12 had stayed a notification of the central government allowing the traditional sport of Jallikattu, a key element of Pongal festivities.
Supporters and organisers of the event had staged demonstrations following the ban and some people in these areas had tonsured their heads and blocked roads demanding conduct of the sport.
They also had staged demonstrations with their bulls in tow even as police disallowed such protests.
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As tense situation prevailed in the area, miscreants released some bulls on the road prompting police to chase away the crowd that had gathered at the 'Jallikattu' venue.

Many of the Jallikattu supporters staged a dharna near the venue, police said.
They demanded a ban on PETA and also for bringing in an ordinance for conducting the bull-taming sport.
The bulls were later brought under control by its owners, police said, adding, no one was injured.