Protesters in Chennai, India, throw stones and burn cars over bull-riding ban

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Protesters at a beach in Chennai, India, burned vehicles and threw stones at police in opposition to a law banning bull-taming.

The protesters were seeking a permanent decision to allow the sport, called Jallikattu, in Tamil Nadu state. Jallikattu was banned nationally in India in 2014 over animal cruelty issues, in a section of a law prohibiting bulls from being used as "performing animals." The state government, however, allowed a temporary lifting of the ban Saturday during Pongal, an annual harvest festival occurring every January.

Two men died Sunday after they were gored by a bull at an event in the city of Rapoosal, police said.

Police said tens of thousands of protesters gathered for the past week on Chennai's Marina Beach. They burned vehicles and threw stones at police as they were evicted Monday.

The crackdown on the protesters came as the governor of Tamil Nadu state was expected to address the issue of the sport in his annual speech Monday. Animal rights activists say the bulls are easily injured in Jallikattu, while proponents say the sport holds cultural significance.

P. Dhanapal, Tamil Nadu state assembly speaker, said Monday a legislative session will be held to amend the law to allow the sport.