No cruelty to Jallikattu bulls so far, says animal welfare board
REPORT SOON 5 people, all of them spectators, have died in bulltaming contests this year CHENNAI:
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Thursday gave a “good conduct” certificate to the Jallikattu event, saying no incidence of cruelty to animals has been reported so far, even as five people have been gored to death since the bulltaming contest returned to Tamil Nadu after a ban from the Supreme Court in 2014.
The sport is being conducted as per the rules and guidelines, AWBI chief SP Gupta claimed.
“Yes, there have been few deaths reported. Very unfortunate but they occurred some 2km away from the venues. Besides, it is a law and order problem and not an issue of cruelty to animals,” Gupta said in response to questions from media persons.
On Wednesday, one more spectator died during a Jallikattu event at Pudukottai, bringing the toll to five since the contests began on January 14.
Gupta said the AWBI team goes to the event “only to witness the contest and submit reports”. “They cannot interfere. If any instance of cruelty to animals comes to our notice, we will force the government to take action.”
The Tamil Nadu government has sent a report on the deaths at Jallikattu events, he said, but insisted that “these were not related to the staging of the sport but happened a long distance away from the venues”.
“Our mandate is to prevent cruelty to animals, and in this case the bulls. The events are being held as per the rules and guidelines framed by the state government,” he said, adding that he has not received any complaint from anywhere so far.
“Final reports will come in 15-20 days,” said Ravi Kumar , secretary, AWBI.
This is for the first time that inspection teams from the board are present at Jallikattu events.
A controversy flared up last year after the Tamil Nadu government amended the state’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act exempting bulls from the protections under the Act.