Madurai: Nearly 30 people were baton-charged and taken into preventive custody in Avaniapuram on Saturday for allegedly trying to defy the apex court ban on Jallikattu, a traditional bull taming sport associated with Pongal festivities.

Sensing trouble, police personnel were deployed in large number in sensitive areas where the sport is usually held like Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur, locations famous for Jallikattu in Madurai district.

The step came following indications by various organisations to conduct the sport on Pongal today.

The Supreme Court on Thursday had said it could not give its verdict on Jallikattu before Pongal even as political parties cutting across party lines had demanded from the Centre promulgation of an ordinance to allow the sport.

In a symbolic protest yesterday in Karisalkulam village near Madurai, around five bulls were let into an open ground by a group of youths and the sport was conducted police had said, adding that no one was detained.

DMK Working President M K Stalin on Friday led a protest in Chennai supporting the sport and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supposedly not giving time for AIADMK MPs to discuss the Jallikattu issue.

Police said all preventive measures to ensure maintenance of law and order and compliance of court’s ban have been taken.