RIOTING IN KASHMIR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 5

RIOTING IN KASHMIR

Party Leaders Arrested

OPPOSITION TO MAHARAJA

. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. “The State Government yesterday arrested all the leading members of the Kashmir National Conference (the recognised. People’s Party in the State) and imposed a 15-day curfew in the capital, Srinagar,’” reports Reuter’s correspondent. “The arrested men include Sheik Mohamed Abdullah, president of the conference, who is reported to have been carrying on an agitation against the Treaty of Amritsar, by which Kashmir was handed over to the present ruling family. Abdullah describes the treaty as illegal and demands that the present, ruler should quit Kashmir and hand it over to the people. Members of the working committee of the conference were also arrested. “Defiant crowds in Srinagar stoned military patrols, several members of which were injured. One patrol opened fire and one person was reported killed. At some points the crowds constructed barricades and attempted to destroy bridges, a number of which were damaged. “Military pickets have been posted throughout the city arid all bridges, post offices and other public buildings

are strongly guarded. Assemblies of more than three persons have been forbidden.

“A Government communique confirms that Abdullah and a number of his followers have been arrested for making speeches inciting the people to destroy the existing Government, repudiate their allegiance to the Maharaja and force him to quit Kashmir. “‘Throughout the country preparations were made for seizing power,’ says ; the. communique. ‘His Highness therefore has been compelled to take action for the maintenance of law and order.’* ■ -WW The correspondent says that Abdullah is reported to have appealed to the visiting British Cabinet Mission to abrogate the Treaty of Amritsar. The important frontier State of Kashmir, which comprises Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan, became part of the Moghul Empire under Akbar in 1586 after being under Hindu rulers and Mohammedan sultans. It was annexed to the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab in 1819 after a period of Afghan rule from 1758. In 1820 Ranjit Singh made over the territory of Jammu to Gulab. Singh. After the decisive battle of Sobraon in the Ist Punjab War in 1846 Kashmir also was made over to Gulab Singh under the Treaty of Amritsar. British supremacy was recognised. The State has an area of 84,471 square miles, and a population of 4,021,616, the bulk of whom are Mohammedans, although the ruling race is Hindu. The Government of India is represented by a Resident, who lives at Srinagar, which has a population of 173,573. The Jammu and Kashmir State Forces number 10,153, comprising Dogras, Gurkhas, Kangra Rajputs, and Punjabi Jat Sikhs. The present ruler of Jammu and Kashmir is his Highness LieutenantGeneral Shree Maharaja Harisinghji Bahadur, who was a representative of India at the War Cabinet in 1944.