Villagers attempt to surrender Voter I.D Cards over Jallikattu row

Madurai

The Village Committee of Alanganallur had passed a resolution on January 14, last that they would boycott all the elections henceforth and surrender the Voter Identity Cards and Ration cards to the district authorities, if the ban imposed by Supreme Court on conducting Jallikattu event was not revoked. Since, the Apex Court had stayed a notification issued by the Centre lifting the ban, the traditional events were not conducted in Tamilnadu for the second consecutive year this year.

As per the village committee decision, about 2,000 people, including women took out a procession from Gandhi Museum to the Collector office to surrender their Voter Identity Cards and Ration Cards, this afternoon.

The protesters were blocked at the entrance of the Collectorate by a strong posse of police personnel. Angered over the denial of permission to enter into the Collectorate, the protesters squatted on the road and shouted slogans.

Later, five representatives were allowed to meet District Collector Dr.L.Subramanian. The representatives met the Collector and submitted a petition demanding that the Jallikattu events should be allowed in the state.

The Collector persuaded them not to surrender the Voter Identity Cards and Ration Cards and explained to them the steps being taken by Central and state governments to lift the interim ban. Later, the agitators dispersed peacefully.