Jallikattu claims life of TN’s unbeatable VIP bull Komban

Komban, the “VIP bull” of Tamil Nadu had a gruesome and abnormal death on Sunday when it got killed in the Jallikattu arena itself in Puthukottai district. Komban, who was the lead attraction in the Puthukottai Jallikattu held on Sunday had remained unbeaten till his last.

On Sunday, while the bull was forced out of the vaadivasal (the narrow passageway which leads to the Jallikattu arena), its horns got hot and entangled in the iron railings which caused instant death of Komban. The bull belonged to C Vijayabaskar, Tamil Nadu Minister for Health, who happens to be a powerful Minister in the Edappadi Palaniswami Cabinet. This is the second bull to lose life in this season’s bull taming event. According to animal rights activists, the number of persons who were gored to death by bulls exceeded 15 this season. Later in the day, Komban was cremated amid chanting of vedic hymns at one of the vast estates owned by the Minister’s family.

“Komban’s death once again substantiates our finding that the bulls are forced into the Jallikattu arena much against their wish. The general public are not allowed anywhere near the vaadivaasal. The bulls are subjected to the worst kind of cruelty when they resist to enter the arena through the vaadivaasal,” Nikunj Sharma, activist of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) told The Pioneer.

He said that he had handed over the documents including video and pictures of bulls being tortured by their owners and trainers when they resist the order to enter the arena.

During the Jallikattu held at Alanganallur in Madurai district earlier this month, Komban was one of the few bulls who could not be tamed by the players. The Pioneer had reported that though the commentator had enticed the players with offers ranging from gold coins to a Renault car if they could tame Komban, no one came anywhere near the bull.

Vijayabaskar was in the news in April 2017 when sleuths of the Income-Tax department had seized documents from his house which showed that he had kept unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 89.7 crore with him. The money was distributed among Ministers and leaders of the AIADMK allegedly to bribe voters in the RK Nagar constituency which was to go to by-election on April 12, 2017. Following the seizure of money and documents, the Election Commission of India had rescinded the bypoll which was ultimately held in December 2017.

Though the Income-Tax department, through a series of leaks and releases had disclosed that the money was seized from Vijayabaskar’s residence, the Government of Palaniswamy had taken no action against the Minister.