Reuters AlertNet Lite - Hindu activists riot in India's Bangalore

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Hindu activists riot in India's Bangalore

21 Jan 2007 13:50:45 GMT
Source: Reuters

BANGALORE, India, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Hindu activists burnt shops owned by Muslims and set vehicles ablaze in the southern city of Bangalore, India's technology hub, on Sunday, police and witnesses said.

The violence occurred as activists moved through the city to join a rally organised by the right-wing Hindu fundamentalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS -- National Volunteers' Corps).

On Friday, thousands of Muslim demonstrators protesting against last month's execution of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, clashed with police and destroyed shops and cars in the city.

Bangalore is home to about 1,500 global and Indian IT firms. Their operations were not affected by the violence as they are located on the city outskirts.

Police used teargas and batons to disperse the crowds and prohibition orders, restricting movement of four or more people together, were issued in central Bangalore.

More than 2,000 police officers patrolled the affected areas as mobs targeted Muslim shops and vehicles, forcing the closure of some businesses, witnesses said.

Police said there were no injuries but witnesses said about five people were wounded in stone-throwing incidents.

"Prohibitory orders will be in force until Tuesday," city police chief N. Achuta Rao, told Reuters. He said there had been some arrests but did not give a number.

The Indian state of Karnataka, of which Bangalore is the capital, is ruled by a coalition of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and a regional party.

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Last updated:Sun Jan 21 13:51:34 2007