Jallikattu: Two die in Indian bullfight amid controversy

George was also present at the Marina beach, where police arrived at around 6 on Monday morning.

Jallikattu remained banned following a Supreme Court order in May 2014.

Video footage showed overturned motor cycles burning, police personnel rushing out of the station wearing helmets, fire-fighters dousing the blaze, and cops chasing protesters through smoke-filled streets. A similar move was made at other important locations in Coimbatore and Madurai among other areas.

Some placards held by a few protesters were vulgar and there were random calls demanding a separate Tamil land. At this point, the police returned with shields and intensified the lathicharge.

The stir by a small group of villagers in Alanganallur and police action against them, after many of them were detained, had triggered protests in Chennai with youths assembling on Marina beach.

The protesters say they will not disperse until the ban was permanently lifted.

Close to noon, police began forcefully evicting all the protesters from the venue. There were not much protests back then.

Indian public transport also became victim of mob’s anger in which passengers injuries are also reported.

In certain places police had to hurl tear gas at supporters as some miscreants hurled a stone at a police officer.

Several vehicles and equipment went into flames as petrol bombs, according to some reports, were hurled at the police station.

The police had to resort to force and several demonstrators were also lathi charged. Another protester from Tamil community, Satish Kumar from Chandigarh road said, “If a bull gets hurt during jallikattu we consider it ominous”.

While the bill to legalise Jallikattu has been tabled in the Tamil Nadu state assembly January 23, the protest which was carried out peacefully till yesterday has turned violent now.

The crackdown comes on a day when the state assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary governor’s address.