Angry mobs set fire to 3 KSRTC buses

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 6. Angry mobs set fire to three KSRTC buses in Akkur police limits in Chennapatna taluk and set up road blocks to prevent the Cooperation Minister, Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, from addressing a meeting on Tuesday.

Groups of people, said to be supporters of the Janata Dal(S), set up blocks on roads leading to Hunasenahalli where Mr. Shivakumar was scheduled to hold a meeting of the Congress workers at the Bislamma Temple.

Earlier, a mob set fire to a KSRTC bus that had halted for the night at B. V. Halli Cross near Vitlenahalli where the police opened fire on farmers recently. The bus was partly damaged.

Another mob set a KSRTC bus on fire in Buvanahallui village. Police said the mob asked the people who had got into the bus to alight and then set it on fire. The vehicle was badly damaged.

The mob, which soon swelled in numbers, set another bus on fire at B. V. Halli Cross. Meanwhile, groups of villagers and political activists began setting up blocks on several roads leading to Hunasenahalli village. Tension began to build up when the mob decided to prevent Mr. Shivakumar from entering the area.

The police swung into action and dispersed the mob by resorting to lathicharge in several areas. Stones were thrown at the policemen due to which several of them were injured. The road blocks were cleared and the protesters were chased away.

Senior police officials, including the Inspector- General of Police (Central), Mr. Achuta Rao, rushed to the spot.

Ten platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police and the District Armed Reserve were deployed. Security has been tightened in the entire area.

The Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), Mr. M. D. Singh, told The Hindu that several persons had been arrested. The situation was tense but under control. He said timely action by the police had averted a group clash and prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn.

The Superintendent of Police (Bangalore Rural District), Mr. Bhaskar Rao, said 135 persons had been taken into custody. He said the police had shown maximum restraint while clearing the road blocks and chasing away the protesters despite the stone throwing.

He said the meeting of the Congress workers went off peacefully and all those who tried to obstruct the minister's convoy were dealt with firmly. Despite being provoked by the mob, the police had not retaliated, he said.

The Akkur Police have registered a case of rioting and vandalism.

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Section  : Southern States
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