This refers to the editorial, “Tradition rules” (January 17). The main thrust of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017, was on the safety of the bulls, the bull- tamers as well as the spectators thronging the event. However, this Pongal, the State saw four deaths in two separate incidents due to bulls running amok. Admittedly, during this year's ‘Mattu Pongal’, the Jallikattu organisers had taken great pains to ensure the bulls were not drugged. But it is said the animals had to wait for long hours without food and water. Some of the 500 centres, where the event took place in 24 districts, reportedly witnessed participants holding on to the horns of the bulls and pulling their tails, both in violation of the Supreme Court directives.
The helpless animals, down by hunger and disturbed by the cheers of an overzealous crowd, went into the spectators' enclosure to crush one. Aimless bull running is common in one variant of Jallikattu; that means the overall fencing for the event was not foolproof. Suffice to say the crowd control mechanism too was not up to the mark. This, despite the organisers claiming there were two levels of fencing between the bulls and the viewers. Similarly, in the event of a stampede, the managers seem clueless. The version of the authorities that the number of bull-tamers equalled the number of bulls, appears incorrect. Loopholes in the State law vis-à-vis the Central rules have to be plugged. All stakeholders should keep in mind that Jallikattu is an emotional moment which has to be traversed with utmost care and caution.