STRIFE IN INDIA

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1946, Page 5

STRIFE IN INDIA

CASEY CRITICISED Moslems and Communists INVOLVED in POLICE ACTION. (Rec. 10.15.). CALCUTTA, Feb. 14. Mill workers who demonstrated at Kankinara, burned down a railway station and three trains which were held up on the track. Passengers were forced to get out, after which the carriages were set on fire. The Moslem League’s Calcutta newspaper “Morning News” printed accounts of the disturbance on the front page under the heading Murder! Murder! Nothing But Murder. The article says: "Murder is now the order of the day under the accursed rule of the Government o India, and its representative in Calcutta, Richard Casey.” The Congress Party and Mos em Lea°ue combined in the Legisla Assernbly at New Delhi .to pass a vo?e of censure on the Government because at New Delhi the police on Tuesday handcuffed and chained thirty-seven Moslem League and Communist Party members , The Secretary of External Affans, Mr H Weightman, announced in 'he General Assembly,' that six persons were being detained for reasons £ State” He added those detained were all' connected with previous; dynasties in Afghanistan, and 3 b e e >» implicated in efforts to subveit a neighbouring friendly government. Four were killed and 14 injured when police opened fire on workeis who blocked the passage of a n at Kankinara, 22 miles from GaUutta.F’our others were killed and 60 injured in rioting to-day. The police opened fire six times in Calcutta. Casualties in the three days noting total 32 dead and nearly 300 m--3UThe police and troops were forced to open lire 12 times to-day. On y white troops were called out to check the disturbances and no Indian troops are being used. A mob to-night set fire to the 'Methodist Church, in Rharnatilla Street, one of Calcutta’s busiest and most congested areas. Troops opened fire in Calcutta today, the third day of rioting, which began with Moslem demonstrations against the gaol sentence passed on Captain Abdul Rashid, a member, of the Indian National Army. The troops were called in by the Governor. of Bengal (Mr. Casey). By the early afternoon 36 persons had been admitted to hospital from the day’s disturbances. Some had bullet wounds and others were affected by tear-gas. During Monday and Tuesday, 17 persons were killed and 200 injured, including 20 police. The Congress Party president (Dr. Maulana Azad) has issued an appeal for order. He said that bad characters had been influencing young men for their own nefarious ends. A Bengal Government spokesman said that Mr. Casey did not. proclaim martial law, but called in the troops to aid the civil police, which is exactly the same situation as occurred last November when troops helped to quell the disturbances. Reuter’s correspondent in Calcutta says: “British troops for the first time since they were called in by Mr. Casey this morning opened fire on rioting crowds in the Wellington Square area of central Calcutta. The troops opened fire at least three times before noon in three parts of Calcutta. Tear-gas was used to disperse crowds in front of the Kalkghat tram depot, which was set on fire last night. Lorryloads of troops are patrolling the streets of Calcutta, which are littered with splinter-’ ed glass and other debris.” LONDON, February 13.

The Government has not yet received a report from the Governor of Bengal (Mr. Casey) on the situation in Calcutta at present, or of the total casualties, said the Undersecretary for India (Mr. Henderson), in the House of Commons. Mr. Casey had told the Government that the disturbance had reached a pitch at which it was impossible to restore and maintain order with the available civil resources, and that he had accordingly authorised the importation of strong military forces. Lord Winterton asked: Is it not clear that there is some reason for these riots ? Was it the sentence imposed—some think it was a light sentence —on the former member of the Indian National Army who betrayed 1,000,000 of his colleagues, and who was the associate of the murderers and torturers in the Japanese Army?