RIOT IN INDIA

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 10

RIOT IN INDIA

Six shot dead I (V ZP A. Reuter—Copyright ’ NEW DELHI. January 3. Police shot dead at least six persons and the Prime Minister (Mrs Indira Gandhi) was forced to Abandon a public meeting after being pelted [with shoes, in separate incidents yesterday during a 24-hour genera I strike in the 1 Western Indian state of Maharashtra. 1 A police spokesman said 'that a r ’°t broke out in ■ Wani. about GOO kilometres least of Bombay. the : Maharashtra state capital. >after an independent member .of the Legislative Assembly 'and certain followers had jbeen arrested for obstructing ‘State transport buses. 1 The spokesman, in Yeotmal, near Wani. said that rioters demanding the release of the men set fire to a police motor-cycle, ransacked mouses, and attempted to 1 burn down a local Governiment official’s house. Police tried to disperse the I rioters with lathi (baton) ‘Charges'before opening tire. I-Six persons were killed, and [three wounded. Mrs Gandhi cut short a!

(public meeting at Nagpur, /OU kilometres east of Bombay, when the crowd began throwing shoes and sandals at her. Trouble erupted when Mrs Gandhi referred to food ; shortages, the general economic situation, and the oil crisis—key issues of the .strike called by a joint, action ! committee of several LeftIwing parties to protest jagainst Government failure to check rising prices. The crowd, which was overspilling a public park, surged forward. Mrs Gandhi left the platform and was quickly escorted away by police. Immediately after she left,! the crowd stampeded.