RIOTS IN BOMBAY

Evening Star, Issue 25699, 24 January 1946, Page 5

RIOTS IN BOMBAY

Banned Birthday Celebrations

Serious Police Clashes With Mob

(Rec. 12.5 p.m.) BOMBAY, January 23. The police fired on crowds with revolvers and rifles in a series of clashes with demonstrators who defied the ban on celebrating Subhas Chandra Bose's hirthday, says Reuter's. One demonstrator was killed instantly, two died in hospital from wounds, 40 were wounded, and 100 injured in lathi charges by the police. Twenty-six policemen, including the British deputy commissioner, were injured by ' missiles. Seven men, allegedly the ringleaders of the rioters, were taken into custody. ' . The situation is tense throughout the city. J In the first disturbance the police fired twice or three times, used tear gas, and charged with lathis to break up the crowds which assembled before large portraits of Bose carried by women. Other riots broke out outside this area, and the police repeatedly fired on the crowds, which heavily ■ stoned them.

Later disturbances occurred when small processions attempted to enter the banned areas of the city near the Moslem quarter. The police stopped them, after charging with lathis. The crowd set fire to a. police lorry and stoned the fire engines called to fight the blaze. The driver of one engine' was seriously; injured by a stone. * All traffic in this area, which is the most congested in Bombay, has been dislocated, and strong police forces have moved into the area. The leading demonstrators are reported! to have been near the entrance to the Moslem quarter when the police acted. Sharp isolated clashes between the police and the demonstrators continued after sunset. An official- communique states that the situation was brought under control at 5 p.m. The casualties were 51 suffering from bullet wounds, 170 "treated in hospital and discharged, and two police officers andl 24 constables injured. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr P. Wilkins, was seriously injured when struck by a bottle * flung from the top of'a building. [Subhas Chandra Bose was a supporter of Japan, and instrumental in forming the Indian National Army.]