Violence breaks out in Bangalore; many hurt as houses, shops attacked

Staff Reporter

Trouble started when some banners were set on fire by a group

A web-designing centre was set on fire The police fired in the air to disperse the mob

BANGALORE: Several people were injured, vehicles damaged, houses and shops ransacked during the violence that rocked Bharatinagar and surrounding areas in the city on Friday.

The police said the trouble erupted when a group of people marching towards Shivajinagar Stadium from K.G. Halli to attend a rally organised by the newly formed People's Front to protest the execution of Saddam Hussein and "U.S. imperialism." The processionists set on fire some banners on Seppings Road in Bharatinagar.

A group of people took objection to this which led to a clash. Those who were part of the procession started attacking houses, vehicles and shops with stones, the police said. The mob started burning vehicles parked on the road and throwing stones on Thimmaiah Road. Arsonists barged into a web-designing centre, damaged computers and set them on fire. The mob barged into several houses and shops, ransacked them and looted valuables.

"I opened the door when a woman who was being chased asked for help. The mob came inside my house, hit me and my two sons with sticks," said a 55-year-old man, who is nursing a head injury in Lakeside Hospital. One of his sons received stitches on his head. A Central Government employee said he was chased and beaten with sticks.

"In order to quell the mob, a head constable fired three rounds in the air. Later, I used my service revolver and fired four rounds in the air. This did not control the situation and people started throwing stones at me and my men," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Fraser Town) Puttathimme Gowda.

Mr. Gowda, sub-inspector M. Malalingaiah, police constables Ratnakar and Siddaramaiah were injured in stone-throwing. V. Anand, another constable, was stabbed. In all, 20 persons who were injured have been admitted to a private hospital.

The police resorted to lathi-charge and burst teargas shells to disperse the mob. Later they opened fire in the air. According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalakrishna several policemen were injured in the stone-throwing. Around 30 platoons of KSRP have been deployed in the area and senior officers are camping there.

According to the police, around 50 vehicles, including cars and police vehicles, were set on fire. The police rushed additional forces to the area. The situation was tense but under control.

Similar incidents were also reported from Thimmaiah Road, Narayana Pillai Street, Seppings Road.

The whole area was strewn with glass pieces, mangled vehicles and burnt tyres. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals.

Ban orders

The police have clamped prohibitory orders in the area. They have intensified night patrolling.

The situation was tense in several other areas of the city as people took out processions towards the Shivajinagar Stadium. En route the procession, they burnt effigies of U.S. President George Bush at some places.

Security was tightened in communally sensitive areas such as K.G. Halli, D.J. Halli, Tannery Road, City Market and J.J. Nagar.