Stalin taken into preventive custody as protests over Jallikattu turns violent

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan. 20 (ANI): As protest over the lifting of ban on bull taming sport Jallikattu escalated, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president M.K. Stalin on Friday was taken into preventive custody for joining the 'Rail Roko Agitation' at Chennai's Mambalam. The DMK workers, in huge numbers, broke the barricading here while voicing their support for Jallikattu. While holding the 'Rail Roko agitation', headed by Stalin, the DMK workers halted a train at Mambalam Railway Station by lying down on the railway tracks. Stalin was protesting at the Mambalam Railway Station. DMK MP Kanimozhi also held protest at Chennai's Egmore railway station in support of Jallikattu. Meanwhile, in Rameswaram shops have been shut down supporting the same cause. One of the protesters said they won't leave the Marina Beach till the ordinance is passed. "The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister says within two days ordinance will be brought & Jallikattu will be organised. We won't leave Marina Beach till it's done," he told ANI. Marina Beach continues to witness large crowd thronging there in support of the sport. Members of South Indian Artists association, Nadigar Sangam are also to come out in support of Jallikattu today. Music maestro A.R. Rahman will also remain present. A strike call has been given by traders, truckers and van and taxi operators, and private schools in many districts including Chennai have announced holiday today. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam earlier today, while announcing that the draft of the ordinance has been sent to the Home Ministry, urged the protesters to end their agitation. Jallikattu remains stalled since May 2014 due to a ban imposed by the Supreme Court, which is due to deliver its verdict on a related case that has been reserved earlier. The widespread pro-Jallikattu protests have lead to charges and counter-charges by political parties, even as the call for legal remedies to revive the bull-taming game is getting louder. (ANI)