Mobs torched buses, attacked company offices and stoned police on the streets of India?s technology hub yesterday ahead of the funeral of film icon Rajkumar, whose death has triggered widespread mourning.

Officers retaliated with tear gas and baton-charges as thousands converged on a stadium in the centre of Bangalore, home to major Indian and international technology companies, where the actor?s body had been put on view in a transparent coffin. The state government of Karnataka announced a public holiday, as authorities prepared for Rajkumar?s cremation yesterday.

Schools, shops, cinema halls and many of the city?s IT businesses ? including India?s second-largest software company, Infosys, and multinational Dell Inc ? closed for the day, and few buses were running.

Police had to cane unruly fans surging to have a glimpse of their icon as they attempted to restore order at the stadium while thousands of fans, including women and children, stood in long queues to pay homage. Other were bemused by the violence.

?It is a natural death. Why are the fans getting violent? It is out of fear people are closing shops,? said a street vendor near one of the city?s main bus terminals. The death of Rajkumar, aged 77, following a heart attack, has sent emotions soaring in the city.