BANGALORE: A series of programmes are being held across the State on Thursday to pay respects to the late Rajkumar who died on April 12, 2006.

People, however, have forgotten those lesser mortals who lost their lives during the mindless violence that rocked Bangalore during the funeral procession on April 13, 2006.

For Rajkumar, his fans were his gods and he always addressed them as "Abhimani Devarugalu." It was some of these "gods" who vied with others for that last glimpse who were killed in the police firing. Life has not been the same for the families of these seven persons since then.

While the Government has adequately compensated the family of Manjunath Malladi, a constable who was lynched by a mob near the Kanteerava Stadium, the same has not been the case with the civilian victims. Although sources in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) told The Hindu compensation has been paid to the seven families, the dead men's kin are still struggling to eke out a decent living after the death of the breadwinners. The Government is yet to respond to the request made by Shalini, sister of Shylesh Kumar, who was killed in the police firing, to provide her a job. She had approached Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy during the Janata Darshan.

Amjad Kattimani (25), also killed in the firing near the Kanteerava Studios, was expecting his first child. A screen printer, he was from Gadag district and after his marriage in 2005, came to Bangalore and settled at Jalahalli. Unlike families of some other victims, Kattimani's has reportedly not received compensation from the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike as he was not a native of Bangalore. The civic body has paid Rs. 50,000 each to three families and Rs. 1 lakh to another.

The fate of 27-year-old Gopal of Laggere, who was to marry on May 15, 2006, was tragic. While his aged and visually-impaired parents are shattered by his death, his fiancee Hemavathi is still finding it difficult to get another groom.

Janardhan (25) had been near the studios and was standing on the third floor of a building to watch the funeral procession when he received a bullet in the ribs. He fell to the first floor of the building, recollects his friend Rudresh who was with him. Hailing from Bylahalli in Hassan district, Janardhan worked in a garment factory here. He was the only working member in his family. His father, Lingashetty, hopes that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike will pay him suitable compensation though he is a native of Hassan district.

Muniraju (43), who fell to the police bullets near Siddalingaiah Circle, was the father of two. A mason, he lived near Kengeri. He left home early that day saying he would return after attending his regular work. He never did, says his wife Radha.

Another victim, Yeshwanth Shetty (26), was a garment factory employee.

During the violence, 60 civilians and 118 policemen were injured. Seven vans and four motorcycles belonging to the police were among the vehicles set on fire.

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