ARMY LEAVE CANCELLED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 126, 13 March 1950, Page 3

ARMY LEAVE CANCELLED

ACTION BY INDIA PEELING AGAINST PAKISTAN (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) LONDON, March 11. “All Army leave has been cancelled in India and unit commanders have been ordered not to leave their stations,” says the New Delhi correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” This is the latest development in the war of nerves between India and Pakistan.

“Tension has been increasing over the communal riots, although according to the latest reports the communal situation has considerably eased; Pressure on India’s Prime Minister (Pandit Nehru) to adopt a firm attitude towards Pakistan continues, and there is open talk possible conflict.” The New Delhi correspondent of “The Times” says: “Pandit Nehru’s return from Calcutta has focused attention on the difficult Bengal problem. The gravity of India’s- view of the situation that has developed is apparent from Pandit Nehru’s decision to return to Calcutta on Tuesday. “A relieving feature, of an otherwise dark and depressing picture is the improved tone of the extremist press on both sides of. the border, notably a section of the Pakistani press whose attacks on Pandit Nehru have lately exceeded in virulence almost anything of the sort since the partition.” About 760 Hindu men and women Were killed and an unknown number were injured in the Barisal district of East Bengal in mass attacks by Moslems between , February 13 and February 18,. according to a detailed official report. ! *

The report said that the killings and a wave of looting, arson, and murder developed from a rumour that Bengal’s Prime Minister before the partitions of India, and his son; had been killed in Calcutta. Although this rumour was denied, Moslem mobs reepatedly attacked Hindu refugee camps sheltering 10,000 displaced persons.

The report said that the situation was under control by February 18, but that the Hindu papulation and refugees were very panicky and were without food.