Gandhi’s Fast In Effort To Stop Calcutta Rioting.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1947, Page 4

Gandhi’s Fast In Effort To Stop Calcutta Rioting.

((Ptccd. 2 p.m.) NEW DELHI, Sept. 2.

1 The Central Peace Committee appealed to the police of Calcutta to stop rioting in order to save the life of Mr Gandhi. The death roll since the rioting began has reached 62. Mr Gandhi, entering the second day of his fast, is reported to be cheerful. He said he would give up his fast as soon as the city was reported normal. Communal Clashes The Bengal Government announced that nine were killed and 29 injured as the result of military police firing and 13 killed and 75. injured in communal clashes in Calcutta today. Calcutta’s peace since the transfer of power was an 18 days’ wonder, which has now ended, says The Times correspondent. The riotings are said to be a sequel to an incident on the night of August 31 when three Moslems are alleged to have set upon one Hindu. Incidents occurred yesterday in the former “battlegrounds” of northern Calcutta. Tram and bus traffic ceased on most of the roads. Mobs held up cars. Gangs clashed in fights, looted shops and burned houses. Indians attribute the outbreak to the publication in Calcutta newspapers of the Punjab news, which had previously been withheld. Slaughter Feared Indian Government authorities, fearing that the sporadic outbreaks of communal violence round the capital may grow to slaughter on the Punjab scale, have begun moving Moslem minorities out of villages to safety. Strong patrols in Old Delhi and a 12hour curfew have not prevented stray stabbings and assaults. Fifty-nine were killed in the last few days.

Seven have been killed in communal incidents at Bombay.