KILLED BY MOB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 12

KILLED BY MOB.

TRAGEDY IN ORISSA.

INDIAN POLITICAL OFFICER.

POLITICAL AGENT'S DEATH.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

MADRAS, January 0.

Major R. L. Bazalgette, political agent, in the Orissa States, was killed last evening by a mob outside the palace of the Ruler of Ranpur State, Orissa. A threatening situation developed in Ranpur as a result of the arrest of some members of the Praja Mandal (People's Association) following a theft in a nearby village. The tension increased still further when the Praja Mandal was declared unlawful. Major Bazalgette, who was staying at Nagard, a neighbouring State, was informed of the position and immediately left for Ranpur.

Accompanied by a Subadar (chief officer of a company of soldiers) Major Bazalgette faced a mob which was marching on the palace, and ordered it to disperse. His orders proved ineffectual, and when the mob, which was armed with lathis, became increasingly menacing and threatened an assault. Major Bazalgette flred his revolver. The mob then closed in and inflicted fatal injuries on him. The Subadar was also seriously injured, and is stated to be in a precarious condition. Two members of the mob are reported to have been killed by the shooting.

Ranpur is a small State in Orissa under the Eastern States Agency, having an area of 203 square miles with a population of 47,713. Political agitation in Orissa States began in the middle of last year. The States people protested against the rigorous forest laws and taxation of betel leaves, and the protests soon grew into an agitation for responsible government. The State authority offered to consider popular representations on certain conditions, one of which was that processions and demonstrations should cease. Certain concession* in regard to the taxation of betel leaves and the forest laws were also announced. As this condition was not accepted by the Praja Mandal (People's Association), various bodies associated with the people'* agitation were declared illegal, and four members were arrested. On September 11 last, 8000 people staged a demonstration at Dhenkanal to secure the release of the arrested men. The demonstrators refused to obey an order to disperse and then attacked a police force numbering 20. Mr. J. R. Creffield, the 71-year-old Assistant Commissioner of Police, and two other police officers were severely injured. As the situation turned grave, police opened fire, thrice killing four persons among the crowd and injuring many. It was also alleged that elephants were used to break up the crowd.

When calm was reetored, Mr. Harekriehna Mahtab, president of the Orissa Congress Committee and member of the All-India Congree* Executive, together with other Congress leaders met the ruler of the Dhenkanal State. This was followed by another conference between Orissa Minister* and the political agent of the Orissa State*, at which Mr. Mahtab was present. The conference realised the need for mutual co-operation between Orissa States and the Government of Orissa Province to restore normal condition*. Later, however, the trouble rose again by the State* people resorting to *atyagraha (passive resistance) in their fight for responsible government. The agitation has since then spread to other small States in Oriesa. In December last 20,000 people belonging to 60 districts of Talcher (a small State In Orissa) took refuge in the neighbouring British Indian district of Angul in Orissa; and the agitation from that time ha* been growing in intensity and H culminated in the above tragedy. Mr. Harekrishna Mahtab, member of the Congress Executive, in a statement to the Press, asks those who'might have been responsible for the murder of Major Bazalghette to come forward with a confession of their guilt, and face the consequence, whatever it may be, in the interest of the States people and of the non-violent movement in the State*. In condemning the outrage, he says that the culprits deserve the severest punishment. This foolish act, under whatever provocative circumstances it might have oeen committed, has put the Congress in a false position and it* repercussions in other States are likely to be serious. This is the first time in the agitation for responsible government that the people nave been violent in face of repressions and firings.