BENGALURU: Tension prevailed in Bangarappa Nagar in Raja Rajeshwarinagar after Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar’s bust was disfigured by unidentified miscreants, who set fire to it after it was installed on Tuesday.
Following the incident, hundreds of fans and Kannada activists staged protest demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
The incident took place a few hours after Dr Raj Seva Samiti had erected the bust which was a replica of the actor’s character in ‘Sipoy Ramu’ film. The Samiti had planned to install the bust and works were on from the last 15 days.
On Wednesday evening, the construction of concrete block was completed and the bust made of plaster of paris was installed there.
The Samiti members distributed sweets to the locals and celebrations were on till 10 pm. Some of the Samiti members were there till 1 am in the night.
The incident came to light around 4 am on Thursday, when some locals found the bust defaced. They informed the Samiti members and the news spread in the area. By 6 am, hundreds of fans, Kannada activists and locals had gathered at the spot and started protests.
A large number of policemen rushed to the scene. The CAR police were also deployed at the spot to control the situation.
Sources said that the police have taken a suo-motu case and are investigating, and that FSL experts and sniffer dogs squad are also pressed to service.
“There is no clarity on to whom does the land, where the bust was installed, belonged to. Some say it belongs to a trust which wanted to construct a temple there while others say it was a BBMP property.
This is being probed. Also, there were differences about installing the bust as some wanted actor Shankar Nag’s bust there, while some other organisation had plans to install Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s statue.
It is suspected those who were against installing Dr Rajkumar’s statue are behind the incident,” a senior police official said.
“There was no opposition to install the actor’s bust from the locals. We urge the police to arrest the culprits immediately,” said Srinivas, a member of Dr Raj Seva Samiti, adding that they had planned to inaugurate the bust on November 23 and invite the actor’s family members for the event.
Home Minister K J George, district-in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, D. K. Suresh (MP) and other leaders visited the spot and urged the people to maintain peace.
