MURDER AND TORTURE

Evening Star, Issue 25928, 21 October 1946, Page 7

MURDER AND TORTURE

HINDU VILLAGES SET FIRE BY MOSLEMS MORE TffIWPS SENT TO AREAS (Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. Refugees continue to pour from the stricken areas in India bringing horrible tales of murder, tor* ture, and indescribable assaults against women, says the British United Press correspondent, who arrived at Comilla by air after flying over at least 11 Hindu villages set on fire by Moslem “ avengers." The Comilla police stated that 4,500 embittered unemployed Moslem workers from Calcutta, are at the root of the trouble. They spread tales of the murder of Moslems and circulated such slogans as “Death to Hindus. Seize their women," from which the campaign took shape to wipe out the Hindu population of the district. The correspondent adds that the “ conversion “ of Hindu women usually consists of assault,, after which they are not' allowed to return to the Hindu fold or to their husbands. Many decide to join the Moslems rather than be classed as outcasts. A Government communique issued in Calcutta states that two battalions with brigade headquarters will arrive in the disturbance areas _in Eastern Bengal to-morrow, in addition to the 2.500 troops and police already there. The statement adds that looting and burning in the bazaars and other incidents. one of which was serious, occurred in Tippera. There were no further incidents in Npakhali, hut the apnrehension is considerable. Difficulty is being experienced in preventing panicky people evacuating their houses in completely nnaft'eeted areas and crowding the relief centres.