The police in Chennai started evicting pro-jallkattu protesters on Marina Beach on Monday morning who refused to vacate the protest ground even after a frequent request by the cops. The police requested protesters to leave the place as “their purpose has been fully achieved.” However, the outrageous protestors set Ice House Police Station near Chennai’s Marina Beach on fire.
The state government promulgated an ordinance on Saturday regarding the conduct of Jallikattu. The police, who issued a press release in the early hours of Monday, said the protest had been staged in a disciplined manner without causing trouble to the general public and obstruction to the traffic.
In the meantime, hundreds of Tamil-Americans gathered at the Gandhi statue in Washington to hold a rally supporting the continuing Jallikattu movement demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport. It is an integral part of Tamilian culture. Various people also held a protest demonstration outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.
Jalikattu was held on Sunday in some parts of Tamil Nadu. While two persons were killed at the event in Pudukottai, at least eight people have been injured. Jallikaattu was also held at Erode, Pudukottai and Trichy districts and bullock cart race was organized in Coimbatore.
The events were held after week-long state-wide protests by youths followed by the promulgation of an ordinance by the Tamil Nadu government amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act to hold Jallikatttu. The sport was banned by the Supreme Court in May 2014.
“Jallikattu is being held at several places in the state with proper arrangements. At Alanganallur it will be held when the people want it,” Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam told reporters in Madurai on his way back to Chennai.
“Jallikattu cannot be stopped by anybody,” he added. Tamil Nadu government will pass a bill in the Assembly on Monday for holding the bull taming sport. The bill is expected to pass with majority support.
The protest in Chennai’s Marina Beach entered its eighth day on Sunday. Youth urged the central government to remove bull from the list of performing animals in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
