BOMBAY RIOTS END

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 7

BOMBAY RIOTS END

SITUATION BECOMING NORMAL REPORT BEFORE COMMONS PRECAUTIONS NOT RELAXED CASUALTIES RECOUNTED (British Official Wireless.) Received. 12.15 p.m. to-day. RUGBY, May 23. The situation at Bombay has greatly improved and is so well in hand that all the auxiliary forces have been disembodied and the withdrawal .of the military pickets has commenced. Further sporadic outbreaks are still possible as the communal feeling, which always runs high in Bombay, is aggravated by the continuance, of the political tension and the einb i tte rm ent caused by economic condition's, but although the position cannot be regarded as absolutely stable there are signs of a return to normal conditions and mill hands show an increasing tendency to return to work. In the House of Commons, Sir Sainuel Hoare said the rioting was not organised. It did not take the form of clashes between considerable bodies but consisted of surprise attacks on temples, mosques or shops and murderous attacks by gangs of both communities. The easualities were mostly inflicted in isolated encounters, many being stabbing cases. The gangs dispersed rapidly at the approach of the patrols who found the streets empty on arrival. The curfew order and the order prohibiting assemblies, together with the establishment of military and police posts, prevented the formation of large bodies and helped the work of combing out by the police and military of bad characters. There were being , placed in an emergency gaol.. By the end of last week the casualties numbered 130 dead and 1640 in- , jured. In the mill area, where seri- ; oiis trouble was threatened, the pickets and patrols prevented large clashes. > Mill operatives who ceased work at 49 . mills on Thursday began to return, so ; that on Saturday only 14 were closed. The position continued to improve, - but the Bombay Government would not - relax the intensive precautions until t order was completely re-established. r Asked whether Congress volunteers, ’ who claimed to control the Hindu popu- ; lation, had actively supported the Gov- - eminent in restoring law and order, > Sir Samuel replied: “So far from being . a help they have been in certain cases a public danger and in all cases a public nuisance.”