Sat Jan 17 13:19:58 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Two Fatalities at Unauthorized Manjuvirattu Events Raise Safety Concerns in Tamil Nadu
The Story:
Two individuals, J. Vinitha, 30, and C. Sakthivel, 22, were fatally gored by bulls at separate, unauthorized manjuvirattu (bull chasing) events in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The events, held in Kondaiyampalli and Sentharapatti respectively, were organized without government permission. Vinitha, a spectator, died en route to a hospital in Attur after being injured in Kondaiyampalli. Sakthivel was killed while watching the event in Sentharapatti.
Key Points:
- Two people died at unauthorized manjuvirattu events in Salem district on January 17, 2026.
- J. Vinitha, 30, was a spectator in Kondaiyampalli and died of her injuries.
- C. Sakthivel, 22, was watching the event in Sentharapatti when he was killed.
- Neither event had government permission.
- The Attur police subdivision had only granted permission for the Koolamedu jallikattu event on Sunday.
- Police investigations are underway, and cases will be registered against the organizers of the unauthorized events.
Key Takeaways:
- Unauthorized cultural events pose a significant safety risk to participants and spectators.
- Lack of government oversight and regulation can lead to tragic outcomes.
- Enforcement of existing regulations regarding animal sports needs to be strengthened to prevent future incidents.
- The police are investigating the organizers, signaling a potential crackdown on unauthorized events.
First Piper 