The Jallikattu protests in Chennai turn grim. Protesters at Triplicane, close to Marina Beach set police vehicles on fire and the Ice House police station near the beach is also believed to be on fire.

Sources in Chennai tell us that there are no train plying from south Chennai into the city. There is heavy police bandobast, traffic jams on the roads leading to the protest site at Marina Beach.

Protesters standing in a chain edged closer to the sea and threw stones at the police, who used batons and tear gas to control the crowd.


Hundreds resisted the police who arrived at 5 am in large numbers and physically removed protesters. Some people were injured in clashes with the police in and around the beach. The protesters had yesterday threatened to block Republic Day celebrations despite the state government's ordinance or special order bypassing a Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu.

All routes leading to Marina Beach have been closed, and barricades have been put up by the police to prevent people from assembling there.

Violence has also broken out in Alanganallur in Madurai district. Yesterday, protesters in Alanganallur did not allow Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to inaugurate the Alanganallur jallikattu which was cancelled.

Later talking to media persons, the Chief Minister said that even though jallikattu was not held at Alanganallur, it was organised smoothly in many places all over the state.

The Bill to replace Sunday's ordinance passed by the Governor on Jallikattu, will be tabled in the state assembly when the first assembly session begins on January 23.


Image: Smoke rises from the Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach which was set on fire by the protesters.