FAKIR’S EXHORTATION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 11

FAKIR’S EXHORTATION

Raids and Sniping on the North West Frontier London, April 19. A message from Simla states that the Fakir of Ipi, preaching on Friday, exhorted numerous Wazirs and Mahsuds to commit offences against the Government. Various raids and sniping followed. A British official wireless message from Rugby states that the recent fighting in South Waziristan was the subject of a question in the House of Commons to the Under-S.ecretary of State for India, Mr. R. A. Butler, who said that the recrudescence and extension of the trouble in Waziristan was due to the increasing scale of fanatical and antl-British propaganda of the Fakir of Ipi. It was at first confined for the most part to the younger and irresponsible elements in the tribes which appeared to have got out of the control of the responsible tribal leaders. Every effort was being made to restore order by means of political pressure assisted by air action. Mirga Ali Khan, the Fakir of Ipi, has for 12 years fomented and led tribal outbursts against British authority on the North West Frontier of India. The Fakir is an amazing character. He is a humblyborn man of the people, yet at 24 he had become, by sheer force of personality, a fakir, a religious leader. This combination of religious power over his followers and daring as a warrior, has made the Fakir the terror of 'the frontier country. No one knows where he lives. Secret Service men have sought him high and low, but without, success. He travels with incredible speed, and commands fanatical loyalty. No one will give him away. He works his followers up to a pitch of frenzy, in which they are prepared for anything. He plays on their religious prejudices, tells them that this or that action by the British is a blow at Islam. Last November British soldiers were shot by his men. British reinforcements were rushed up. Quiet was restored. The Fakir lay low. The British troops’ were withdrawn in January. The Fakir reappeared. No one knew where he bad been. Murder gangs began their outrages again. Two British officers were murdered as they motored through the Fakir's territory. All efforts to find the murderers have failed. A column of British Indian troops was attacked.