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#JallikattuBan: Police security tightened near enclosure gates
A large posse of police personnel were posted at the vadivasals (enclosure gates), at Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram, the place from which the jallikattu bulls enter the ground.
By
migrator
migrator
Madurai
Jallikattu is conducted at these places on three different days. It begins at Avaniyapuram on Pongal, followed by Palamedu on the second day and Alanganallur on the third day. Â But owing to the ban all the enclosure gates were sealed.Â
On January 14, jallikattu enthusiasts assembled in Avaniyapuram and protested but they were caned. Tamil film Director, Gowthaman, who was one of them was also injured. Police expect more trouble at Alanganallur. Over 2,000 policemen were stationed throughout the district to prevent any untoward incident. Extra check posts in the routes leading to Alanganallur and Palamedu were setup to stop bulls and jallikattu enthusiasts from reaching the villages.Â
According to bull owners, the police had threatened them and had obtained letter from them that they would not indulge in sport or send their bulls. Apart from policemen, a special vehicle Vajra, which is used to spray water on the protesters, was also stationed near the enclosure gate. In the noon, there was a minor tension in Palamedu. A mini bus in which some of the police personnel were travelling was stoned by the protesters. In the incident, the windshield of the bus was damaged.
Rules of jallikattu not followed, claim Madurai police
Police claimed that though bulls were let out and were chased by bull fighters, it was not jallikattu as no proper rules were followed.
Speaking to reporters at Palamedu, Madurai Superintendent of Police Vijeyendra Bidari, said  that as per tradition, only the temple bulls were allowed to go near the enclosure gate after performing special prayers. On seeing the crowd one of the bulls ran in fear and some miscreants unleased two more bulls. Apart from that they were only temple bulls and not jallikattu bulls.Â
Temple bulls were tied with ropes but jallikattu bulls would not be tied with ropes and hence what took place was not Jallikattu. The bull owners would be traced and appropriate action would be taken against them, they said. When asked about the threat issued to those who groomed bulls, the SP declined that no such threats were issued and said that notices on conducting jallikattu were issued to them and acknowledgement was also obtained from them.Â
Similarly Madurai Collector, KVeera Raghav Rao, met the media and said that the situation was brought under control and there was tension at Palamedu. He also claimed that jsallikattu was not conducted and if there were any such incidents it will be investigated.
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