RIOTS CONTINUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 12 August 1942, Page 3

RIOTS CONTINUE

UNREST IN INDIA crowds Tired on BOMBAY STORM CENTRE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 11. Despatches from India report that demonstrations accompanied by indiscriminate violence and the wrecking of public property continued to-day in parts of Bombay and Delhi. Communications were interrupted and stones were thrown at the police, who used lathis and tear-gas, but, when the mobs did not disperse, fired. They were supported by troops with submachine guns. Several deaths are reported. Poona and Ahmedabad are quieter. Several schools and colleges in various places are reported to be closed, the students having gone on strike. The Governor of Bombay broadcast a warning that order will be maintained at any cost.

The latest reports indicate that Bombay remains the storm centre. The city’s death-roll yesterday and to-day is estimated at 15. More than GO persons were taken to hospital today, mostly with bullet wounds. After an ugly day, the disturbances became more serious late in the evening and the police were again forced to open fire at several places. Troops were called out un-Bombay, New Delhi- and Lucknow. Bombayrail traffic was dislocated during attacks on railway stations, in which a large number of rioters are believed to have been wounded. All the markets are closed and buses and trams are not operating on some routes. Excited Mob Stones Police The Associated Press correspondent at New Delhi says that the Cawnpore police opened fire after they were stoned by an excited mob. Eight persons were taken to hospital, two in a serious condition. A Government order forbids newspaper headlines reflecting editorial opinion, requires the registration of all correspondents, and reiterates the determination to prevent the publication of any matter arousing sympathy for the Congress campaign.

An earlier message from Bombay stated that the -city had almost completely resumed normal life, and that few of the 70 mills were shut down. It is clear that the Congress is not receiving support from the other parties. It looks as though the Government’s promptitude has crushed the civil disobedience campaign. The curfew completely cleared the streets and anyone abroad was immediately arrested. The mob element was again busy in some areas in the morning.

Many shops were closed in Calcutta and work was interrupted at some jute mills. At Nagpur, students struck and shops shut. The crowds at New Delhi were in an uglier mood than on the previous day. They forced the remaining shops—mostly Moslem—to close down. The police did not interfere beyond guarding the banks and other buildings and Pushing the rioters off tram lines and enabling the empty trams to move on. Most of the local y leaders disappeared to avoid arrest. The mobs are virtually leadeiless. A crowd which tried to reach the Viceroy was led toy women. Mr. Sardar Baldev, Minister of Development in the Punjab, stated that the Sikhs would not tolerate any subversive movement calculated to weaken the war effort.