RAICHUR: Questions on inflicting pain on animals in the name of traditional sports have accompanied Kara Hunnime, a popular festival celebrated with fervour in many parts of North Karnataka region.
The popular sport where many pairs of oxen are made to pull heavy rock blocks weighing 1-2.5 tonnes has been publicly questioned for the first time by animal rights organisations. An organisation has lodged a complaint with Raichur deputy commissioner Gautam Bagadi seeking action against the organisers of the events. This year, the sporting events were held from June 27 to June 29 to mark Kara Hunnime.
Two aspects have sprouted since this sport kicked off on June 27. Besides the rock pulling events, another sport where oxen are made to run also takes place in Kalaburagi district. These two sports have thrown up questions on violence meted out to oxen and also injuries and deaths of humans caused during the events.
On Thursday, a man in Chincholi taluk in Kalaburagi district was severely injured after he fell off a moving cart pulled by oxen. Though efforts were made to take him to a hospital, he breathed his last on the way. The incident happened at Ganjager village. Another man from Mudhol village of Sedam taluk sustained injuries when he was hit by oxen.
In another incident, MLA Umesh Jadhav who was riding an ox-driven cart at Chincholi stepped out of it to take a phone call. When the MLA was on the phone, the oxen hit three people including himself.At Jalibenchi village in Raichur, a man had a providential escape from death as he fell under a rock block which a pair of oxen was pulling. The man, identified as Huligyappa, suffered minor injuries in his legs and arms.
Endorsement by politicians
In Raichur, almost 90 per cent of men and women endorse this sport as there is no awareness on animal rights. MLA Venkatrao Nadagouda who represents Sindhanur constituency of Raichur district and who is now handling the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Portfolios talks in favour of this sport.
Animal abuse in North Karnataka