SEARCH FOR GURKHA IN ELISABETHVILLE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29685, 1 December 1961, Page 13

SEARCH FOR GURKHA IN ELISABETHVILLE

Officer Kidnapped And Driver Murdered (K.Z. Prtu Assn—Copy rig Kt) ELISABETHVILLE, November 30. The search continued in Elisabethville today for a United Nations Gurkha major whose Gurkha driver was found shot dead yesterday less than 200 yards from President Tshombe’s residence. United Nations troops and Katanga police were taking part in the search for Major Ajeet Singh, and Katanga officials said they would do everything possible to find tne people responsible and bring them to justice, reported the British United Press.

The Ghurkha commander. Colonel S. S. Maitra, told the news agency that he had positive proof that the Katanga para-commandos were responsible for the kidnapping of Major Ajeet and for the murder of the driver. This incident followed closely one In which two United Nations officials, Mr George Ivan Smith, an Australian, and Mr Brian Urquhart, a Briton, were clubbed and beaten by Katangese para-commandos on Tuesday night. The condition of Mr Urquhart, who was kidnapped for a time, was said to be satisfactory. He was suffering from a broken wrist, broken ribs and numerous cuts and bruises. Mr Smith, who was rescued from the back of an army lorry by the United States Consul, Mr Louis Hoffacker. was X-rayed yesterday for suspected broken ribs. The Acting-United States Secretary-General (U Thant) sent a message of appreciation to Mr Hoffacker, who, the message said, "took risks and exerted efforts far beyond the call of duty.” In London the “Dally Telegraph” today deplored “the shocking outrage” against United Nations officials in Elisabethville, reported Reuter.

The newspaper aaid: “If Mr Tshombe’s 'poisoned arrows’ tirade on Sunday may have helped to inflame the resentment behind this attack, so unquestionably did the preceding resolution of the Security Council pointing to a renewed drive against Katanga. * “Certainly no one can deplore the indiscipline of his soldiers more sincerely than Mr Tshombe himself: for it threatens to compromise his claim to be capable of keeping order, and to give the United Nations ground for another military intervention.

“It is tragic that tension should have been raised to this pitch at the very moment when the united

Sations and Mr Tshombe are apparently ready to move in the same direction.

The Deputy Foreign Secretary, Mr Edward Heath, recalled in the Home of Commons yesterday. that the United Nations recently passed a resolution permitting the use of force in Katanga as a last resort, Reuter reported. “It has always been our fear that a resolution at the United Nations of the kind which was passed would lead to greater tension in that

area. That la why we have done our utmost to prevent thia aort of situation occurring.” A Conservative member. Sir Robert Grimston. asked if the tension had not been heightened by the action of United Nations troops in Katanga in September. Mr Heath replied that the Government had not felt that it would lead to a reduction of tension. He said that Britain had instructed its Consul in Elisabethville to lodge a strong protest