In a peculiar turn of events, Coimbatore City Commissioner of Police A. Amalraj has said that necessary action would be taken against the organisers of the Rekla race in the city on Sunday as the event was reportedly not included in the Ordinance passed by the State Government.

According to the ordinance passed by the State Government in support of Jallikattu on Saturday, Jallikattu was included as a clause shell in section 2 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, I960.

“‘Jallikattu’ means an event involving bulls conducted with a view to follow tradition and culture on such days from the months of January to May of a calendar year and in such places, as may be notified by the State Government, and includes ‘manjuviratu, vadamadu and erudhuvidumvizha (other sports using bulls),” the ordinance read.

However, no mention of Rekla is given in the ordinance, which means that Rekla continues to be a banned sport, according to sources.

Yet, a Rekla race was organised by the Coimbatore District Administration in Codissia on Sunday, flagged off by Minister of Rural Development and Urban Administration S.P. Velumani in the presence of District Collector T.N. Hariharan and other members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly.

Interestingly, COP Amalraj was also present at the event.

Though the event was blocked by protesters who stormed the arena, which resulted in the cancelation of the event, three carts participated in the race successfully creating suspicion of breaking of the law.

The question was raised in the Press Meet organised by the City Police on Tuesday, to which the COP said he would look into it.