Bangalore calm after street violence
Bangalore calm after street violenceNupur Basu
Friday, April 14, 2006 (Bangalore):
Parts of Bangalore city, which were swept by violence on Thursday, are now calm.
Seven civilians and a police constable Manjunath Malladi died in clashes after popular Kannada actor Rajkumar died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday.
The 77-year-old actor, who had starred in more than 200 films, was buried with state honours on Thursday.
Fans complained that sufficient arrangements were not made at the stadium for people to pay their last respects to the revered actor.
Violence broke out near the stadium and along the route of the funeral procession. The police were outnumbered by the fans who chased and beat them, causing injuries to more than 180 of them.
Five civilians were also hit by the police fire and 60 others suffered injuries. State-run buses were also set ablaze.
Tragic loss
Malladi, 25, was beaten to death by the mobs in Thursday's violence. A B Com, LLB graduate, he was a young, industrious and meritorious cop in Bangalore's police force.
"We are extremely sorry about it. It's very sad that the young boy's life has come to an end so soon," said Ajay Kumar Singh, Police Commissioner, Bangalore.
Nine civilians are still in hospital, five of them with bullet injuries.
So far 563 persons have been arrested and 41 cases registered against those who indulged in destruction of property, public and private vehicles and attacked people.
"The loss is yet to be assessed, but I think it should be realistically between Rs 2-3 crore and even more than that," added Singh.
The police are also investigating reports that trucks carrying boulders were brought in to systematically attack the police, media and others.