New Delhi - Five men have been killed and more than 70 injured
during bull-taming events in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu,
news reports said Wednesday.
A spectator was gored by a bull at a jallikattu ("taming the bull" in
Tamil) event in the Pudukottai district on Wednesday, the Hindu
newspaper reported.
Three spectators died at similar events on Tuesday, taking to five
the total number of deaths in jallikattu events that began on Sunday,
the report said, adding that an estimated 72 people had been injured.
The controversial sport was banned in 2014 by India's Supreme Court,
which agreed with a petition by animal rights activists that the
practics constitutes animal cruelty.
However, the government passed an executive order lifting the ban in
2017 following protests by locals demanding that the traditional
sport be allowed.
Jallikattu is similar to the Spanish bull fighting tradition and is
held during the Tamil New Year harvest festival season of Pongal.
A bull is made to run in an open space where several men try to tame
it by controlling its horns. The winner gets cash rewards, gold coins
and other prizes.
Animal rights activists have long opposed the tradition, pointing to
the injuries it causes to bulls as well as human deaths. They claim
the animals are often given alcohol and chili powder is thrown at
them to make them react.