Cops draw public’s ire at erudhu vizha in Krishnagiri

Violence broke out in a village in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday when the locals, defying an official ban, proceeded to organise the ‘erudhu vidum vizha’(bull race) there, thereby resulting in confrontation with the police.

As police attempted to stop the bull race, the angry villagers hurled stones at them. Their jeeps and fire and service department vehicles, too, were damaged in the melee. To bring the angry mob under control, the police resorted to lathi charge.

People from Madagondapalli village near Denkanikottai Taluk in Krishnagiri had sought permission to conduct the race –a variant of jallikattu-- in view of a local temple festival. However, citing law and order issues, the district administration refused permission. However, the villagers decided to go ahead and conduct it, in an act of gross violation of law. 

More than 100 bulls from several villages in Krishnagiri and from the neighbouring state of Karnataka were brought to the village for the ‘vizha’. Thousands of people from Hosur, Thali, Denkanikottai and from across the State and Karnataka gathered to watch the event organised defying the ban.

The police, who initially took a lenient stance, had then asked the organising committee to stop the bull race. However, the organisers refused to heed and continued to hold the event. After a while, the celebration mood transitioned into tension.

The villagers began to hurl stones on police and fire and service personnel vehicles. When cops attempted to chase away the stone hurling mob, the venue turned into a war zone. The police finally resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

The glass window panes of police vehicles were left smashed in the violence. As tension continues, over 100 personnel have been deployed at the spot to prevent any further untoward incident. Following inquiries, the Thali police have picked up around 25 suspects involved in the violence. Further investigations are on.