Police arrest 35 persons for rioting after a death during bull race at village near Tirupattur
The Hindu
The victim, a resident of Periyakammiyampattu village in Jolarpet, was gored to death by one of the charging bulls let loose by owners after the authorities refused to extend the time of the authorised race
The police arrested 35 persons on Thursday for damaging public property, including government vehicles, after a 19-year-old spectator was killed during a bull race near Natrampalli in Tirupattur on Wednesday.
The victim, D. Musharraf, a resident of Periyakammiyampattu village in Jolarpet, was attacked by a charging bull at an authorised bull race conducted in the village. The victim was running for cover along with other spectators after a few bulls were let loose by owners after the police and revenue officials refused to extend time to allow the remaining bulls to participate in the race.
Revenue officials said five vehicles, including the Sub-Collector’s jeep and police vans, were damaged. Two policemen sustained injuries during the riot. A total of 58 police personnel were deployed for the bull race in the village. Following the incident, a complete search was done by the police in the village and neighbouring hamlets. Preliminary post-mortem report has indicated the death of the victim was caused due to injuring from the goring.
Based on the complaint by S. Kumar, Tahsildar (Natrampalli), the police booked the arrested persons under Sections 143, 269, 270 and 304 (2) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Later, they were remanded in judicial custody.
On Thursday, more police personnel were deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incidents. Also, the scheduled bull races in Tirupattur and Ambur blocks were cancelled. Along with Jolarpet MLA, K. Devaraji, the Superintendent of Police (Tirupattur), K. Balakrishnan, pacified the villagers and the victim’s family by meeting with them.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.