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 angry protesters have set the Ice House Police Station to fire, near the Marina Beach whereas the TN police have detained over 100 students who were protesting near Meenakshi Hall in Coimbatore.
Earlier this day, the TN police asked the protesters at Chennai’s Marina beach to call back their agitation as “their purpose has been fully achieved” since the state government promulgated an ordinance on January 21. But the protesters demanded more time which compelled the police to take charge forcefully.
Soon enough the police moved in and started removing the protesters from the beach forcefully which resulted in a heated clash. Meanwhile, all the routes to Marina Beach were blocked and police put barricades to prevent people from gathering over there.
Tamil Nadu: Fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai, Police disperse protesters #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/MBDYEbHz7Z
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu: Clash between protesters and Police in Madurai’s Alanganallur , an injured protester being taken to hospital #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/ipERq4jVPz
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu: Police forcefully remove protesters in Madurai’s Alanganallur #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/4oiSXIi2C6
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Reacting to this behaviour of the state police, DMK’s acting party president MK Stalin condemned the act and said,”It’s highly condemnable for using force to disperse the crowd who were fighting democratically.”
A massive human chain was formed by the locals who chanted demanding complete freedom to perform Jallikattu.
#Jallikattu supporters form human chain at Chennai’s Marina Beach pic.twitter.com/eKspf7sIgU
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
The Chennai city police had earlier requested the protesters to leave Marina Beach in a peaceful manner as “that their purpose has been fully achieved” after the state government promulgated an ordinance on January 21.
The police had to resort to force and several demonstrators were also lathi charged.
Meanwhile, all routes leading to Marina Beach have been closed, and barricades have been put up by the police to prevent people from assembling there.
On January 22, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam faced protests when he went to inaugurate Jallikattu event in Alanganallur. Protesters there demanded a permanent solution for conducting a Jallikattu event in the state, therefore, not allowing Tamil Nadu CM to inaugurate.
