DAY OF FIGHTING AT LAHORE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 252, 22 July 1935, Page 9

DAY OF FIGHTING AT LAHORE

Furious Moslem Crowds

TROOPS FIRE AT HOSTILE MOB

By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyright

(Received July 21, 7.30 p.m.)

Lahore, July 20.

The Royal Scots were forced to lire on a huge crowd of Moslem rioters, killing and wounding a number, as a climax to a day and night of mob defiance arising from the Sikh attempt to demolish a disused Moslem mosque situated in the grounds of a Sikh shrine.

The mob resisted police baton charges, smashed prison vans and threatened to overwhelm the police under cover of a barrage of brickbats when troops were called out while R.A.F. planes circled overhead. A later message states that 10 are believed to be killed and many were injured when the Royal Scots fired four rounds. The casualties are uncertain as the rioters carried off their dead, but three were later found dead. Fifty police, including five British officers, were injured by stone-throwing. Indian cavalry charged and were met by a hail of brickbats. One cavalryman was thrown from his horse into a drain, where he was trampled to death by the terrified animal.

The crowd is still menacing. Despite the curfew, they refuse to leave the streets, which armoured cars are patrolling.

Tension at Lahore became acute on July 9 owing to the demolition of a disused mosque which Sikhs had occupied for 170 years. They obtained legal authorisation, after SO years of litigation, to destroy the mooque because it was dangerous. Moslems resented the decision. The Governor, Sir Hubert Emerson, when attempting a reconciliation, secured a promise from Sikh leaders to postpone the demolition, but their followers began die destruction at night-time. Infuriated Moslems endeavoured to rush Sikhs. Police charged and dispersed the attackers. Eleven were arrested. Two Sikhs were found murdered.