Amid protest crackdown, Tamil Nadu legalises jallikattu

 

Even as protest demanding permanent lift on jallikattu ban turned violent in Tamil Nadu, the state government at a special session passed a bill, which will revoke the Supreme Court ban on the bull taming sport.

According to a PTI, report, the bill, which was passed within in minutes on Monday evening, also seeks to amend the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act.

 

Thousands of Jallikattu protesters had been holding non-violent protests across Tamil Nadu so far. However, the situation took a violent turn on Monday morning. 

 

The situation went out of control after police tried to clear protesters for Republic Day. 

 

In Chennai, the police fired tear gas shells in Marina Beach, the biggest protest site. The police also arrived in force and tried to remove the protesters physically. 

 

Around 15,000 protesters, who had gathered in and around the Marina Beach, were cleared by the police within hours. The Police allegedly pushed a pregnant women during the unrest as well. 

 

Some among the protesters retaliated with stone-pelting and arson. They threatened to disrupt Republic Day celebrations despite the government's ordinance bypassing a Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu.

 

Ice House police station, near Marina Beach, was torched by the mob. 

 

In Madurai, police restored a lathi charge, which injured several protesters. 

 

The situation in both cities remains tense.

 

The police action came following an early morning 'advisory' asking the agitators to end their 'disciplined and peaceful' protest as their "purpose has been fully achieved."

 

The advisory, released to the media, said that tens of thousands of youth, students and general public had been protesting in Marina since January 17 urging to lift the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and that it had been "staged in a disciplined and peaceful manner without causing inconvenience to the general public and hindrance to the traffic."

 

"In fact, the participants have been assisting the police throughout and have cooperated well in the maintenance of Law and Order and regulation of traffic. The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken every initiative and has conducted Jallikattu yesterday (January 22) at various places all over Tamil Nadu to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu," it read.

 

"Through an exemplary display of unity and discipline, the purpose of the protest has been fully achieved. Hence the participants are requested to leave the Marina in the same peaceful and disciplined manner and co-operate with the Chennai City Police," it said.

 

In Coimbatore also, students and other protesters were forcibly evicted from the VOC Park Ground where they were protesting for the last six days. The deployed forces were bodily lifting and shifting them outside the ground, but the students immediately returned and occupied the place again. As they were being lifted the students were heard chanting 'Vande Mataram' in chorus.