TROOPS FIRE IN CALCUTTA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24800, 14 February 1946, Page 5

TROOPS FIRE IN CALCUTTA

Third Day of Riots

CASUALTIES INCLUDE 17 KILLED

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p m.) LONDON, February 13. Troops opened fire in Calcutta to-day, the third day of rioting which began with Moslem demonstrations against the gaol sentence passed on Captain Abdul Rashid, a member of the Indian National Army. The troops were called in by the Governor of Bengal (Mr R. G. Casey) to help the police to restore order. By the early afternoon 36 persons had been admitted to hospital from the day’s disturbances. Some had bullet wounds and others were affected by tear-gas. During Monday and Tuesday 17 persons were killed and 200 injured, including 20 police. This morning armed pickets fired on a mob which was attempting to establish a roadblock in p city street. The local United States Army commander has ordered all American troops and vehicles to withdraw from Calcutta. Processions and meetings are banned. The Congress Party president (Dr. Maulana Azad) has issued an appeal for order. He said that bad characters had been influencing the young men for their own nefarious ends.

A Bengal Government spokesman said that Mr Casev did not proclaim martial law, but called in the troops to aid the civil police, which was exactly the same situation as occurred lit November when troops helped to quell the disturbances.