DISORDERS IN INDIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23715, 13 August 1942, Page 5

DISORDERS IN INDIA

Bombay Quieter

SERIOUS BIOTS ON TUESDAY

(Received August 12, 11 p.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, August 12.

The situation In Bombay was considerably quieter this morning than in the last three days. There were no further Incidents of any importance. An attempt was made to picket a railway station to prevent workers from going to factories, but the picketers P.ed pn the arrival of the police. At Ahmadabad the police had to fire on a procession after stones had been thrown at them. No one was hurt.

Five more Congress Party members have been arrested in Calcutta.- Fifty people were arrested in Bombay for breaches of the curfew last night. The Governor of Bombay (Sir Roger Lumley), in a broadcast, said: “I am going to maintain order at any cost. I now give a plain warning that the troops and police have been ordered to take the strongest measures wherever necessary. Further Government measures against rioting include the application of the Emergency Whipping Act.”

Yesterday’s messages said that Bombay remained very tense. Thirty-one persons had been killed in the last three days, and more than 250 injured. More than 500 had been arrested.

The Bombay correspondent of the British United Press reported yesterday that the trouble was spreading from the north of Bombay to the more fashionable areas. Stretcher parties were active throughout the day. The casualties yesterday were 16 killed and more than 30 injured. Armoured cars and lorries carrying ■troops armed with Tommy-guns patrolled the streets. Several hundred police have been brought in to reinforce the city force, which is normally 7000- . , , Scores of unescorted women calmly shopped in the European centre. Only a few miles away students and workers roamed the streets, shrieking defiance of the British. Firing on jCrowds Rioting in the northern sector of Bombay city took a grave turn yesterday. It was unsafe for anyone to appear in this area wearing a Western hat or necktie. The police opened fire at four places in the morning and troops on two occasions participated in firing on riotous crowds. But, as when the police were involved, only a few shots were fired each time. The position became worse yesterday afternoon, with the dislocation of Bombay suburban rail'services. A large crowd attacked the Matunga railway station, smashing indicators, Invading the booking office, and pulling down the ticket shelves. The crowd then broke up into groups, smashing fire hydrants, fire alarms,'and lamp posts. The Matunga Post Office was closed after the cutting of the telegraph wire. Rioters also cut several gas mains. Bonfires in the streets were fed with trees uprooted from the street. Hats, neckties, and other articles of European clothing were snatched from passers-by, and also copies of the British-owned “Times of India” newspaper. There was no trading in any markets in Bombay yesterday. Schools and colleges were closed, or had very scanty attendances. Mobs of students demonstrated, parading round shops to prevent their reopening. The East India Cotton Association, the biggest cotton market in India, has been closed until Saturday and more mills have been closed in Bombay. In Other Cities A violent mob broke into six police posts in Poons last evening,, smashing furniture, and burning documents. The New Delhi correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: “Most of the shops are barred, but many are trading from back doors. Officials do not think the trouble will become really serious.” It is officially reported in New Delhi that an angry crowd killed a Moslem police sub-inspector near the railway clearing accounts office, which was burned out. The situation became ugly yesterday morning through the activities of a large crowd of mill workers. The town hall in New Delhi was practically destroyed by fire and the income tax office was burned down. Many pillarboxes were uprooted. Police and troops were frequently forced to open fire. Numerous mill workers and students were arrested. Strong military reinforcements arrived •and troops are patrolling the streets. Disturbances occurred in Delhi’s busiest street yesterday morning. Rioters, after setting on fire a fireengine and a lorry, tried to set fire to the municipal hall. The police opened fire, killing one and wounding another. British troops were called out and are now patrolling the area. Five persons killed and 14 injured were reported from Patna yesterday, and three killed and 22 injured frbm Madura. Three were killed in Old Delhi, and one in New Delhi. The Cawnpore authorities have promulgated the death penalty for arson and for using explosives. Troops patrolling in armoured cars discouraged demonstrators considerably in other cities. Yesterday’s reports indicated that Poona and Ahmadabad were quiet. Bengal Province, where there are 20,000,000 Hindus, is reported to be calm.

The arrests of prominent members of the Congress Party continue in various provinces. The provincial governments are implementing the banning of Congress Party committees. The authorities in Allahabad have prohibited all processions and meetings for 10 days.

ARREST OF RUMANIAN OFFICERS

REPORT OF MOVEMENT AGAINST ANTONESCU LONDON, August 11. A Zurich message says that 60 high ranking Rumanian officers are reported to have been arrested on the Russian front and in Rumania, in connexion with a secret organisation against General Antonescu. They have been imprisoned in an old castle in Bucharest.