DISTURBANCES IN DACCA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25091, 24 January 1947, Page 7

DISTURBANCES IN DACCA

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED POLICE OPEN FIRE IN BOMBAY (Rec. 11 p.m.) DACCA, January 23. The Bengal Government has announced a state of emergency in the Dacca municipal area, where the Government reports “serious loss of life and property” from intermittent communal disturbances in the last few months. “A feeling of bitterness and suspicion still persists between Moslems and Hindus, and the possibility of a fresh outbreak of communal strife cannot be ignored.” The police in Bombay opened fire several times to-day to check HinduMoslem disturbances caused by the celebration of the birthday of Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the Indian National Army for the Japanese in Burma, and later was killed in an air crash. Some people were taken to hospital with bullet wounds.

The police prevented serious fighting. Troops are being posted in the city. Tram and bus services have been suspended. Five persons were arrested for interfering with traffic. The second day of student disorder in Calcutta produced less tension yesterday, but a Bengal Government communique reports* that nine persons were injured and 25 arrested. The police charged with batons to disperse unlawful assemblies. The correspondent of the Associated Press reports that rioters hurled brickbats at military and police vehicles. Military authorities have ordered all vehicles to carry an armed guard with orders to shoot if attacked. Two thousand students, who intended to squat throughout the night on the university lawns as a protest against police action against them, listened quietly on Wednesday to the former Congress Minister, Sarat Chandra Bose, urge them not “to fight the battle of Viet Nam in the streets of Calcutta” and then dispersed. One of the 80 students injured in Wednesday’s events died in hospital.

CANADIAN WHEAT CROP

421,000,000 BUSHELS IN 1946 (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, Jan. 22. The final all-Canada wheat production for the 1946 season is announced as 421,000,000 bushels, compared with 319,000,000 in 1945.

MEAT RATION IN BRITAIN

NO CHANGE THIS YEAR LONDON, January 22. The Minister of Food (Mr John Strachey) announced that the meat ration for 1947 will remain at 16d, but the value of fresh meat in the weekly ration would be Is, instead of Is 2d. The remainder of the ration would consist of 4d worth of canned meat.