Over 100 persons were injured in jallikattu held in four villages in Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Karur districts on Thursday.
The event in Tiruchi district was held at Avarangadu village in Marungapuri taluk in which bulls from Tiruchi. Dindigul, Karur, Sivaganga, Madurai and Pudukottai participated.
The bulls were subjected to examination by veterinary teams and bull tamers by a team of doctors. Ten bulls out of the total 655 animals registered for the event were rejected. The remaining 645 were released from the vaadivasal' one after the other. A total number of 263 tamers were allowed to take part and provided with T-shirts.
Tiruchi Collector K. Rajamani inaugurated the event, which witnessed a large turn out of visitors. A heavy posse of police personnel headed by Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, Ziaul Haque was deployed for the jallikattu to ensure its safe conduct.
Police sources said 71 persons were injured during the course of the event. Five, including three visitors, were referred to Government Hospital at Manapparai for treatment. The remaining persons were treated at the spot by medical teams.
Collector Rajamani handed over cash prizes to the two best tamers, an official release said adding that two bulls sustained minor injuries.
The events in Pudukottai district were held at Vanniyanviduthi and Mangadevanpatti villages.
Police sources said a total number of 669 bulls were released from the vaadivasal at Mangadevanpatti village after being subjected to medical examination. Around 250 tamers took part. Ten persons were injured with one of them referred to Pudukottai Medical College Hospital. The remaining were treated at the spot. Pudukottai Collector S. Ganesh inspected the event.
As many as 504 bulls were released at the event held at Vanniyanvidhuthi village. Six persons were injured of which one was referred to the Pudukottai Medical College Hospital for higher treatment.
The event in Karur district was held at Rachandar Thirumalai village. A total number of 582 bulls were released through the vaadivasal’.
Official sources said the number of tamers who took part were 282. Forty were injured of which two of them, A. Andiappan, 75, a spectator, and M. Sathishkumar (22) a tamer, were referred to Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Tiruchi for treatment.
Transport Minister M.R. Vijaya Baskar distributed prizes to the best tamers of the event.