Violence breaks out in Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 19 (UNI) Several people, including a few policemen, were injured and a police van was set on fire in Bharatinagar here today, forcing the police to lob teargas shells on a mob arriving to participate in a public rally organised to condemn the hanging of deposed Iraq President Saddam Hussein.

Police sources said the group on its way to the rally at Shivaji Nagar in the city started pelting stones and attempted to torch a shop. To disperse the crowd, police lobbed tear gas shells. In the melee, about a dozen policemen, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), were injured. The mob also set ablaze a 'Hoysala' patrol van.

Additional police force was rushed to the area to bring normalcy.

The situation was still reportedly tense.

UNI