TWO MILLIONAIRES HANGED

Evening Star, Issue 17365, 29 May 1920, Page 5

TWO MILLIONAIRES HANGED

SEQUEL TO INDIAN RIOTS. Two Hindu millionaires have been executed at Allahabad as the result of crimes committed during a riot in the village of Kat&rpur (North-west Province-), near Hardwar, <a Hindu pilgrimage resort (says ihe Newcastle 'Weekly Chronicle'). The trouble arose out of Hindu objections to the sacrifice of cows (which the Hindus regard oa saored) at a Mohammedan festival. In spite of the presence of a.body of police, and the fact that the sacrifice was , prohibited by the authorities, a riot took place, during which half the vlliage was burned down, 30 to 40 Mohammedans were, killed, while some of the wounded wcro thrown alive into tho burning houses. A Hindu doctor, who had taken charge cf three wounded Mohammedans, allowed them to ba burned alive, at tho instigation, it was alleged, of Junki Dao, a millionaire trader, and of Baran Das, who was the head of a leligious community, and persomil priest of a famous ruling prince, and also a* millionaire. The trial lasted, nine months. The accused numbered 172, of whom 135 were convicted, eight of whom (including the two millionaires and the doctor) were condemned to death. Over 600 witnesses were called in the 001U66 of the trial. The men condemned to death •appealed against their sentence, first _ 'to the Lieutenant-Governor of tho Proininoo, and then to the Viceroy, who reduced the sentences of four of tho men, but not ■those of the principal criminals. A final attempt to save Ba-ran Das and Junki Das was made by 18 members of the Viceroy's Legislative Council, who appealed to Mr llontagu. The appeal was aismissed.