At Rs 9 crore, Dr Raj death violence is second cosliest

At Rs 9 crore, Dr Raj death violence is second cosliest
Vijay Times

The violence and damage to public and private property in the aftermath of the death of matinee idol Rajkumar is the second highest loss suffered in such violence by the State in recent memory, according to official figures.

The highest loss was caused during the 1991 Cauvery agitation, when property worth Rs 19.85 crore was lost. The loss in the violence after the demise of Rajkumar and during the funeral procession is put at Rs 9.17 crore (Rs 9,17,57,848 to be precise).

Eight people including a police constable were killed in the mob violence. Over 400 vehicles including 80 police vehicles were damaged. Of the 721 arrested for their involvement in the violence, 321 are in judicial custody, 399 are out on bail.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalakrishna told : "We were told that proper arrangements had been made to keep the body at the Palace grounds for the public to pay their last respects. Believing it, we took the body there, only to find an open ground.

"The crowd was getting angry and a group approached hurling abuse at police and the government. If some politician passes away, you people treat them in a great way. But what have you done with our Annavaru ? The government is treating his body like that of an orphan, they said, Gopalakrishna recalled.

The other major incidents which have resulted in loss of public and private property are Rajkumars kidnap by Veerappan (Rs 57 lakh), the Babri Masjid demolition aftermath (Rs 9.46 lakh) and the row over introduction of Urdu News on DD (Rs 6.74 lakh).