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Security beefed up in Karnataka, tension in Chamarajanagar

December 09, 2002 02:46 IST

Karnataka government has beefed up security in the state to thwart possible trouble in the wake of the killing of Janata Dal (United) leader H Nagappa by forest brigand Veeerappan.

"We have made elaborate security arrangements in the state," Director General of Police T Madiyal said in Bangalore.

Madiyal was closetted with Home Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge, Bangalore police chief M D Singh and the state's security advisor T Srinivas for several hours in the evening.

Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Subhash Bharani has been rushed to Chamarajanagar.

Police opened fire to disperse agitated followers of Nagappa who turned violent and set afire three buses in
Chamarajnagar district.

Unconfirmed reports said one person was injured in the firing which took place at Kamagere, Nagappa's home town.

Police said mobs set afire buses at Ajipura, Hajipura and Bandalli.

A bandh has been called in Chamrajanagar district for Monday.

Nagappa's supporters also cut trees and put up road blocks at several points in Chamarajanagar district,
blocking traffic, police said.

Police sources told rediff.com in Bangalore that additional forces have been rushed to sensitive localities in Bangalore, Mysore, and Chamarajnagar districts.

In Bangalore alone, about 20 percent of its 6-million people constitute Tamils. About 20 theatres have been ordered to suspend all shows from Monday.

A couple of Tamil television channels are also likely to go off the air from Monday.

Political parties, including the Janatal Dal (United), the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have blamed the state government for its failure to rescue Nagappa.

State Janata Dal (U) president Byre Gowda told rediff.com that the party held the Krishna government wholly responsible for the tragic death of Nagappa.

Fakir Chand in Bangalore