Indian Govt freed from explaining detentions

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33883, 1 July 1975, Page 17

Indian Govt freed from explaining detentions

(N.Z.P .A.‘Reuter—Copyright)

NEW DELHI, June 30.

A special ordinance issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed of India today frees the Government from having to give reasons for detaining people under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act.

The Government I merely has to declare (that an arrest is necessary for dealing effectively with the state of I emergency declared last j Thursday. A Government spokesman has said that 15 per cent of the people arrested since the emergency proclamation are being held under the Security Act. The latest order said that the authorities would reconsider detentions every four months. But the Government was not required to give an opportunity to detainees to make representations if not considered in the public interest.

The President also extended to the State of Jammu and Kashmir provisions of an ordinance taking power from courts to enforce certain fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The ordinance, issued on [Thursday, already applies to; the rest of the country. Protest smashed I The new ordinance in-1 creased the power of the! Government and police force} to counter opposition to the Government. United Press International reported that yesterday’s demonstration in Old Delhi, violently smashed by baton-wielding police, was the first major sign of oppo-

sition to the new emergency regulations. Some 700 police, some on horseback and others with bayonets fixed on rifles, swarmed into the old city to oust about 500 protesters from the grounds of the town hall.

At least 30 people were arrested.

The police waded into the crowd in front of the town hall and chased the terrified protesters down side streets, swinging heavy wooden clubs at anyone in their way.

The frightened demonstrators took refuge in homes, shops and alleys in the crowded old section of

Delhi, but police charged into the hide-outs after them. The Government has said that almost 900 people have been arrested since the arrests began, but opposition parties said that about 3500 were seized on the first day alone.

Opponents had called for Mrs Gandhi’s resignation because of her conviction on June 12 for violating election laws during the 1971 campaign. She has appealed against the conviction to India’s Supreme Court. A Government spokesman denied reports in New Delhi of the resignation of the Chief Jqstice A. N. Ray of the Supreme Court, which is due to take up Mrs Gandhi’s appeal on July 14. The nation’s press was under the firm hand of Gov-i ernment censors, carrying) mostly announcements of 1 support for Mrs Gandhi’s 1 policies. But the largest newspaper,

the “Indian Express,” published a cartoon on the front page showing two men with their hands over their mouths. There was no caption. On Saturday, fire raced through part of the All-India Radio building. The Govern-ment-owned station said the blaze was believed to be “an act of sabotage.”