Hindu leader Bal Thackeray cremated

MUMBAI: Hundreds of thousands of mourners on Sunday attended the public cremation in Mumbai of Bal Thackeray, chief of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party and one of India's most divisive politicians.

Thackeray, who called his followers "Hindu warriors" and was widely accused of stoking ethnic and religious violence, died aged 86 on Saturday, triggering a virtual shutdown of the city.

Huge crowds lined the route to catch a final glimpse of Thackeray, still wearing his trademark sunglasses, as his body was driven slowly to a park in central Mumbai where heaving masses had gathered throughout the day.

Police were out in force following the death of a politician whose party has a reputation for intimidation and unrest, though no trouble was reported.

Thackeray was accused by an official probe of inciting violence against Muslims in riots that claimed more than 1,000 lives in Mumbai in the 1990s, although he was never charged.