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Even as Tamil Nadu is seeing intense protests with people demanding that jallikattu, a bull taming sport, be allowed, a new report has emerged of an event dubbed as the 'fox jallikattu' that took place in Salem district as forest officials watched on. And apparently, this happens every year in many places of the district.
The Times of India reported that officials allowed villagers of Chinnamanaickenpalayam to conduct a jallikattu event with a fox though foxes come under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The newspaper reported that the fox's mouth was tied so that it could not bite.
Suresh Balan, an organiser at the event told The Times of India that the fox was first brought in front of a temple, where it was garlanded. Then a rope was tied to its hind leg as people tried to chase the animal.
He said the fox would be let into the forest after the event.
The row over jallikattu has snowballed in the last few days with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an ordinance to allow the bull-taming sport.
It was only yesterday that a sea of people had gathered at Chennai's Marina beach demanding that the sport be allowed and PETA, which had sought banning of the sport.
From Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actor Rajinikath to chess champion Vishwanathan Anand have come out in support terming the sport as a cultural symbol.
The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty in 2014. And with the states demand to allow the sport, the Centre is likely to wait for the apex courts final verdict on the matter.
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