Masked youngsters armed with petrol bombs and brickbats, police in riot gear, residents demonstrating on the streets, a targeted attack on a police station in the heart of the city with more than a dozen two-wheelers burnt, streets strewn with burnt vehicles, intersections blocked with garbage bins set on fire – these were the scenes in the heart of Chennai as a week-long peaceful protest deteriorated into violence.
Lakhs of protesters had gathered in various places across Tamil Nadu, including the Marina Beach in Chennai, Madurai and other cities, over the last one week demanding a ban on the traditional sport of Jallikattu, bull taming, be lifted.
The Supreme Court had banned the sport in 2014 under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Previously bull taming events were held in parts of southern Tamil Nadu during Pongal, the harvest festival in mid-January.
Ironically, the violence started hours before the Tamil Nadu Assembly met to enact a legislation to ensure Jallikattu could be conducted. The Act would replace an Ordinance promulgated on Saturday enabling the conduct of the sport. Though Jallikattu was organised on Sunday, protesters rejected the move as they felt it was only a temporary solution.
The protesters demanded that the Central Act on prevention of cruelty to animals be amended as a permanent solution.
Monday morning saw angry protesters spilling out on the streets, and blockading roads. Traffic was stalled as college students also came out in protest in various parts of the city.
A couple of thousand protesters continued to sit in demonstration on the Beach. “Someone in authority must assure us that a law has been passed to hold Jallikattu and a permanent solution is in place,” said a demonstrator.
Residents in Triplicane blocked the main road in protest. Pushparani, a resident, said a couple of boys had rushed into her house to take refuge from the police. She and her neighbours had gathered together to protect the youngsters.
A police official said the mob had turned violent and miscreants had set fire to two-wheelers parked outside the Ice House police station while police attention was on the protest venue at the beach. Shops and a hospital adjacent to the police station were unscathed as the mob specifically attacked the station, he said.
Demonstrators barricaded the lanes criss crossing the area and waited for the police. When the police moved to one area the mobs blocked roads elsewhere. The mob barricaded roads with garbage bins doused with petrol and set afire.
The reputation of the protesters who had managed to organise a peaceful demonstration over the last one week took a beating. As police put up barricades on main roads leading towards the beach, traffic was stalled in various parts of the city.
Celebrities including actors Rajinikant, Kamal Hassan and others appealed to the youngsters to keep calm. The demonstrators dispersed after the Legislature amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, as it applies to Tamil Nadu.