5 die as Rajkumar funeral turns violent

Five people, including one policeman, died after thespian Rajkumar's funeral procession turned violent forcing police to open fire here on Thursday.

One person died near the Kanteerava Stadium while three succumbed to their injuries at Kanteerava Studios where the burial took place. A policeman was fatally injured when attacked by the mob. The number of dead may go up as over 100 people, including 40 policemen, were injured in the stampede.

In sporadic violence across the city three petrol bunks and six public transport buses were set on fire.

The drama started to unfold around 11:30 am when thousands of people converged at the Kanteerava Stadium where the actor's body was kept for the public to pay their last respects. But not everybody could catch a glimpse of the actor owing to the huge crowds.

Those disappointed turned violent and started pelting stones at the police. Then they set fire to police vehicles and public transport buses.

When the police resorted to a lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells, the crowd smashed glass panes of the nearby commercial establishments on Lavelle Road, Richmond Road, Kasturba Road and Vittal Mallya Road. Repeated appeals from the actor's family members too could not bring the situation under control. Finally, the police opened fire and 1 person was killed.

Around 1 pm, the actor's body was taken in a procession through Gandhinagar, Bellary Road, Yeshwantpur and Outer Ring Road to the state government-owned Kanteerava Studios in the northern part of the city.

All along the procession route, an estimated 30,000-strong mob attacked and ransacked shops and hotels apart from damaging private vehicles. Even the OB vans and vehicles ferrying mediapersons were not spared.

As the actor's body reached the Kanteerava Studios, the police had to resort to caning and bursting of tear gas shells once again. The unrelenting mob set fire to vehicles forcing the police to open fire for the second time in which three persons were killed. The mortal remains of the actor was finally laid to rest with state honours at 6 pm.

Government offices, shops, commercial establishments, malls, petrol bunks and markets remained closed throughout the day. The BMTC ran a skeletal bus service.

If the thespian's sudden demise brought the entire city to a grinding halt on Wednesday, unruly crowds took control of the streets on Thursday.

Violence was reported from many parts of the city as mobs gathered on the roads. Any vehicle without a Rajkumar portrait on it had to bear the brunt of the attack. Over 30 private vehicles were damaged in the process.

Despite the widespread violence, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy maintained throughout the day that the situation was always under control. One reason why more policemen could not be mobilised was a large number of them having been diverted to the neighbouring Kerala and Tamil Nadu states for the Legislative Assembly polls duty.