MOSLEM RIOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1935, Page 4

MOSLEM RIOT

DEATH TOTAL INCREASING.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] I

KARACHI, March 20.

At least twenty-seven have been killed and over one hundred have been injured in rioting over Quayam’s body.

LATER.

The Moslems’ death roll is now' 40, and it is feared that many more will die. The situation at present is calm, but the Sussex Regiment and armed police are patrolling the city. There were amazing scenes before the clash occurred, when nearly fifty thousand prayed by the exhumed coffin of the executed man. Even after the troops fired, thousands of fanatical Aloslems refused to abandon the coffin, but religious leaders eventually persuaded them to place the body in tho original grave. One British officer and three Indian magistrates were injured by missiles. Influential Hindu and Moslem citizens are raising a fund for the relief of families of th& dead.

The four miles road from the cemetery presented a ghastly spectacle of dead and wounded, and broken bottles and missiles. Numerous public tributes were paid by Indian residents to the commendable tact with which British soldiers risked their lives in handling a delicate situation threatmg io envelop the city in a terrible communal blaze. No anti-British feeling is resulting from the riot. SCOTSWOMAN’S HEROISM,. (Rec. March 21, 2.30 p.m.) n . Karachi, March 20. During yesterday’s riot, a whitehaired Scotswoman, Mrs. Daisy Munro superintendent of the hospital, held its sate against six hundred excited Moslems, who rushed thither to inquire if relatives were possibly killed or wounded when the troops fired. Agitators Incited the crowd to force the gate, but Mrs. Munro faced the mob, and calmly asked whether they preferred being held back by her, or aimed police. The crowd remained orderly. Inarmed police took up guard duties.

TEAR GAS ADVOCATED.

(Received March 21, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, March 20. In the Commons, Mr Churchill referring to the Karachi trouble, asked why lachrymository gas capsules had not been used to disperse the excited crowds, as was done in the United States. Sir S. Hoare said the Government of India had considered the method and had used it in the Punjab, He was confident that the troops and police in Karachi would deal with the situation in the best way.