Friday, April 14 2006 13:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Rejecting allegations that the government and administrative machinery failed to contain mob violence during thespian Rajkumar's funeral, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today (Apr 14, 2006) alleged that trouble had been 'incited'.

Rajkumar's fans were not responsible for the violence, Kumaraswamy asserted at a press conference here, as the city returned to normal a day after witnessing an orgy of violence that claimed six lives in police firing and that of a constable in mob violence. Another person was killed in a stampede near the funeral venue.

Confirming that eight persons had been killed, the Chief Minister said 235 persons were injured in the violence.

"The incident is not a black spot on the image of the government. There are several things I know, which I do not want to discuss in public," Kumaraswamy said, refusing to name the forces the administration had identified as responsible for inciting violence.

Commending the police, he said the situation would have gotten worse and more innocent people could have been affected, had the police not acted with restraint.

The Chief Minister did not say whether his government would order an inquiry into the violence. The cabinet would discuss the issue of payment of compensation to those killed and injured, he said.

When his attention was drawn to the alleged inability of police to deal with frenzied crowds at Kanteerava Studios where the thespian's mortal remains were laid to rest, Kumaraswamy remarked that "it is easy to level allegations but people on the job know the difficulties."

'I had instructed police to maintain restraint'

"I had instructed police to maintain restraint on their part and handle the situation carefully", he said.

The extent of loss to property was being assessed, Kumaraswamy said adding that Rajkumar's family members had consented to holding the funeral at the Studio.

Violent mobs that laid siege to the area yesterday did not even allow family members to properly perform the funeral rituals, which had to be hurried through and portions of which were performed later at night.

The Chief Minister said that police personnel bore the brunt of the violence, as 174 of them suffered injuries and 56 were admitted to hospitals. 60 civilians were injured and nine were undergoing treatment in hospitals, he said.

According to Kumaraswamy, police had taken 563 persons into preventive custody after violence broke out following the demise of Rajkumar, he said.

Meanwhile, the country's IT hub returned to normal today as police maintained a close watch on the situation.