Police can’t be blamed for jallikattu violence, witnesses tell panel

“A majority of the witnesses declared that police weren’t involved in the violence during the jallikattu protests,” said Justice Rajeswaran, addressing the media here.

The commission commenced its fourth phase of inquiry into the jallikattu protests that took place for three days until April 13 in Coimbatore. While police were blamed for setting fire to vehicles during protests in Chennai on January 23 last year, the justice said police officers, who deposed before the commission, denied the charges. “They claimed to have gone to douse the fire. The police officers need to be inquired on this aspect,” he said.

The retired judge said it may take a year to complete the probe into the outbreak of violence during the jallikattu protests. Of the 888 witnesses in Chennai, 210 people have been inquired, while in Madurai, 57, out of 1,002 witnesses have deposed before the commission.

In Coimbatore, 50 people have filed their affidavits and inquiries were completed with all of them. “The commission has issued summons to doctors, who treated those injured during the protests, former CPI MLA Arumugam and principal of CIT College to ascertain the role of students in the jallikattu protests. About 18 people will be inquired in three days,” he said.

The commission will also inquire railway officials on the extent of damage to its properties during the protests. 

The counsel, who would appear for police, would then cross-examine the officials.

Movie stars, including Lawrence, Adhi alias Hip Hop Tamizha and RJ Balaji have already testified before the commission. Another round of inquiry will be held for three days from April 25 here.