The Hindu : National : Rajkumar's death sparks violence in Bangalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 13, 2006

National

National

Rajkumar's death sparks violence in Bangalore

K.V. Subramanya and Raghava M.

Police disperse mobs protesting against poor arrangements

BANGALORE: Kannada thespian Dr. Rajkumar's death on Wednesday triggered violence and disrupted life in the city.

The police lobbed tear-gas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to disperse violent fans who indulged in stone throwing and set vehicles on fire at Sadashivanagar, Bellary Road, Magadi Road and at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium and torched a petrol station at Hudson Circle.

Policemen injured

At least 25 policemen, including senior officers, were injured and seven persons were said to have been stabbed.

Thousands of people, who gathered at the Palace Grounds to have a last glimpse of the actor, turned violent as "proper arrangements" were not made there. They raised slogans against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and demanded that the body be taken to the Vidhana Soudha.

The protesters stoned vehicles stranded at Bellary Road and set on fire over a dozen vehicles, including 10 belonging to the police.

Mediapersons face the ire

They attacked OB vans of private television channels and chased away the cameramen and media photographers on the Palace Grounds. The police brought the situation under control by resorting to a lathicharge and lobbing tear-gas shells.

Violent incidents were also witnessed near Poornapragna School ground in Sadashivanagar after Dr. Rajkumar's body was taken there from the Palace Grounds.

Kumaraswamy heckled

Incidents of arson and stone throwing were reported from the Kanteerva Indoor Stadium as thousands thronged the place after it was decided that the body would be taken there from the Poornapragna School ground. The protesters ransacked the stadium and heckled Mr. Kumaraswamy when he tried to pacify them. The police lobbed tear-gas shells to disperse the mob.

Earlier, as the news of Dr. Rajkumar's death spread, hundreds of fans took to the streets in many areas and started throwing stones and bottles at buildings and passing vehicles. They also stoned theatres screening non-Kannada movies.

Commuters stranded

Hundreds of vehicles, mainly BMTC buses, were damaged in the stone throwing incidents in Magadi Road, Kamakshipalya, Sriramapuram, K.P. Agrahara, Rajajinagar, Subramanyanagar, Koramangala, Byatarayanapura, Vijayanagar, Mysore Road and Kengeri. Three BMTC buses were set on fire at Gowdanapalya in Padmanabhanagar, Hudson Circle and on Magadi Road.

At several places, youths burnt tyres on the road, blocking traffic for hours. Bus commuters were stranded as many drivers abandoned their vehicles. The public transport system was paralysed and most of the autorickshaws were off the roads. Towards evening, most of the roads were deserted.

The incidents were a sad reminder of scenes that followed Dr. Rajkumar's abduction by Veerappan in July 2000.

Grief-struck fans garlanded Dr. Rajkumar's portraits and hoisted Kannada flags at half-mast at prominent junctions in the city. They formed groups and went around in their areas forcing the shopkeepers and businessmen to close shops. All theatres in the city remained closed from afternoon.

To prevent mobs from attacking them, drivers of several vehicles pasted posters showing Dr. Rajkumar on the windscreens. The police have heightened security in the city and intensified patrolling. Security will remain tight till the funeral, expected to take place on Thursday evening.

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