Kidnap drama paralyses Bangalore

Thousands of supporters gathered outside Rajkumar's house

The Indian city of Bangalore has shut down for the second day running as fans of film idol Rajkumar continue angry protests over his abduction.

Police in the city - which is India's high-tech capital - had to restrict movement after protestors disrupted rail and road traffic to demand that the state government ensure the safe return of Rajkumar.

Rajkumar was kidnapped from his farmhouse in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu on Sunday by India's most wanted fugitive, Veerappan.

Veerappan is wanted by the police in connection with more than 100 murders.

Veerappan is wanted for over 100 murders

He operates in the forests bordering the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and seen by the locals as a Robin Hood figure.

The Bangalore Joint Commissioner of Police, BN Nagaraj told BBC News Online that the situation in the city was under control at the moment.

He said schools and colleges had been closed till the weekend as a precautionary measure.

The violent incidents of the past two days have adversely affected the information technology (IT) business in the city.

Ramakrishna, whose Svantech company is involved in computer software business, told AFP that the company had been unable to work in the last two days.

Rajkumar has a huge following in Karnataka

"One guy holed up in a jungle with a few guns is holding a high-tech city to ransom. In fact, it is damaging a whole economy as the software development process chain, including the US, is in complete chaos," he said.

Bangalore ranks among the top five world class IT centres, with the one of the cheapest pools of trained manpower in the world.

Of the 4,500 enterprises currently operating in Bangalore, more than 1500 have a foreign component, with total overseas investment estimated to be $2.14bn in 1999.

Bangalore is among the top five high-tech centres of the world

As attempts continue to resolve the hostage drama, the Karnataka state Chief Minister, SM Krishna, has denied reports that police personnel were combing the forests in which Veerappan is believed to be hiding.

He told journalists that a newspaper editor from Tamil Naud would soon be sent to negotiate with Veerappan on the release of Rajkumar.

Film legend Rajkumar, who has featured in over 200 films, is revered throughout his home state of Karnataka.