India tech capital on alert after death of actor Puneeth Rajkumar

Offices and shops in India's tech capital of Bengaluru shut on Friday and police were brought in to control swarming crowds of fans in anticipation of violence after popular actor Puneeth Rajkumar died in the city.

Puneeth, 46, a dashing lead in films and a member of an illustrious movie family, died of a heart attack on Friday afternoon, doctors treating him told reporters.

Television channels showed crowds of fans swarming toward the hospital where he was being treated, and police were out in force trying to control them.

The death of Rajkumar's father, Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, in 2006 also led to outpourings of grief and shutdowns.

"I pray to the people of the state to do his last rites with respect, please be peaceful and allow the family to mourn in peace," the chief minister of Karnataka state, Basavraj Bommai, told a news conference minutes after the actor's death was announced.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to pay his tributes. 

A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go. The coming generations will remember him fondly for his works and wonderful personality. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/ofcNpnMmW3

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2021