Mumbai in mourning for Hindu extremist leader

Hundreds of thousands of grieving supporters thronged the streets of Mumbai yesterday for the funeral of Bal Thackeray, a Hindu extremist leader (AFP)

Hundreds of thousands of grieving supporters thronged the streets of Mumbai yesterday for the funeral of Bal Thackeray, a Hindu extremist leader linked to waves of mob violence against Muslims and migrant workers.

Nearly 20,000 police were on hand because of the violent history of his Shiv Sena party. The mourners, however, remained calm and orderly as Thackeray's body was cremated at Shivaji Park, where he gave his first political address 46 years ago. Thackeray died aged 86 on Saturday, prompting a virtual shutdown of the city.