Alanganallur village waits for jallikattu amid uneasy calm

Transport services resumed in the Temple City and to Alanganallur, the epicentre of the recent agitations, which was badly hit by the clashes on Monday. Youngsters and students started a historic non-violent protest for jallikattu following the detention of youth, who had protested at Alanganallur, the previous Sunday. 

The protest spread to all corners of the state and at Marina, there was a massive turnout in support of the arrested youth and the traditional support. In Madurai, protests were staged in front of Tamukkam ground. Thousands sat there for six-days. Traffic near the busy Tallakulam area was completely blocked during the protest period. The agitation did not spare even train services as a train was detained for nearly five days on Sellur railway bridge. 

Similarly, at Alanganallur the protest was held on the main road for seven continuous days. Road roko was conducted in several other places cutting off bus services to Alanganallur and Palamedu. The protest ended on Monday after a deadly clash between cops and protesters. On Tuesday life was back to normal in Madurai city and educational institutions functioned as usual and people resumed work. 

The traffic on the road in front of Tamukkam ground and Tallakulam resumed and vehicles started plying through the stretch without any trouble. Shops in both the areas also opened and carried out businesses as usual. Trains that were earlier diverted to Manamadurai from Arupukottai started running through Madurai from Tuesday.

Though bus services resumed and shops opened, there was still an uneasy calm at Alanganallur on Tuesday. Amid the situation, there was smile on the faces of people, as the local committee on Monday announced that the jallikattu would be held in the village on February 1 after a gap of three years. They thanked all the youngsters who spearheaded the non-violent agitation and heaped praise on them saying without their enthusiasm and participation they could not have cleared the hurdles for jallikattu.  Meanwhile, Avaniapuram village would conduct the sport on February 5. About 500 bulls and 300 sportmen were expected to participate in the event. Fifty-three jallikattu protesters have been arrested so far in the last two days, Monday and Tuesday, for staging agitation without permission throughout Madurai district.

The Egmore Magistrate Court on Tuesday refused to remand 29 youths picked up by the Marina police on charges of violence against police and public property, after the arrested persons complained of custodial torture by the policemen.

Following the complaint from the arrested persons, the magistrate directed the police to organise for medical examination of the youths and they were then taken to Royapettah Government Hospital. Police said the youths had been examined at the outpatient facility and they would be remanded after getting the consent from the government doctor. 

Meanwhile, police arrested 170 persons from different parts of the city, who were reportedly involved in arson on Monday. Police are now examining the various video footages uploaded on social media and also on television channels to identify the anti-social elements who went on a rampage in the city following police action against protesters at Marina. In a press release, CoP said no violence was reported in the city on Tuesday and normalcy had been reinstated.