It’s a shame!

It’s a shame!
Deccan Herald


The violence that shook Bangalore during the funeral of Rajkumar is a blot on the fair image of the people of the city. It is unfortunate that eight people lost their lives in violence and police firing in the city, including at the Kanteerava Studios, where the thespian, known for his humanistic outlook, was laid to rest. Among the dead was a Karnataka State Reserve Police constable who was lynched by a mob. The earthly remains of the thespian had been kept at the Kanteerava Stadium from Wednesday night till the cortege left on Thursday, for the countless admirers to pay their last respects. Rajkumar held sway over the minds and hearts of the people of the state, and it was only natural that thousands of them turned up to pay their homage to him. The state government and the police should have anticipated the crowd control problems and deployed police personnel in sufficient strength. It is shocking that there were only 2,000 policemen at the Kanteerava Stadium where more than one lakh emotionally-charged people had gathered. The government could have requisitioned additional police personnel from different districts of the state, besides more men from the Central Reserve Police Force.

It is a known fact that rowdy-sheeters and other anti-social elements take advantage of crowds to kill people, loot shops and houses, and set fire to vehicles and shops. As soon as the government received information about the death of Rajkumar, the police ought to have rounded up all rowdy-sheeters in Bangalore. But they did not as they failed to realise the gravity of the situation, though they have in the past — particularly during the period Rajkumar was a hostage of Veerappan — faced trouble from a section of fans and anti-social elements. During the funeral procession, hooligans set fire to 16 buses, 30 cars and two-wheelers and two petrol stations. It is the responsibility of the government to compensate those who have lost their property in the riot.

Many genuine admirers of Rajkumar, including some who had worked with him in his 45-year-long career in the film industry, did not get a chance to pay their last respects to him. Even Rajkumar’s family could not mourn in peace. The violence forced the family to complete the burial in a hurry, and Rajkumar’s son Shivrajkumar went to the Kanteerava Studios late in the night to complete the religious rites. It’s a pity, indeed.