SPORADIC RIOTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 217, 13 August 1942, Page 5

SPORADIC RIOTING

SITUATION IN INDIA IMPROVEMENT SHOWN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. Noon.) RUGBY, Aug. 12. Messages from India show that the rioting has been restricted to some three or four places during the daytime, and there is no apprehension in London of mass disorder on the scale of the pre-

, vious outbreak. The stem meas- " ures threatened by the Governor of Bombay have apparently not

yet had to be taken,

Tho campaign, for which there seems ,to be no universal enthusiasm even on tho part of the Congress Party supporters, is entirely unsupported by any other sections or parties, whether Hindu or Moslem, and is expressly denounced by organised labour. The possibility is recognised that racial and communal disorders not connected with the original campaign may break out, but the Indian Government is known to be capable of dealing with such trouble.

The fact that the distinguished Indians who form the majority of the Viceroy's Executive Council readily shared the responsibility for the action taken is regarded as a valuable sign of the sense of responsibility and recognition by Indians of, the necessity for solidarity. Responsible opinion in London continues to welcome the constructive Indian aspiration for more active participation in the war. The attainment of, such co-operation is the essential object of tho Cripps plan, which the British Government has just declared remains the basis of its policy. The folly of the. Congress Party leaders is indeed regarded as making even more urgent the need to associate the representative Naders of India with the defence of their country in. its hour of danger.

CONTROL MAINTAINED. The latest official information from India leaves no doubt as to the sporadic and limited character of the demonstrations that have so far occurred. The authorities have the situation completely in hand and there is no indication of any widespread mass movement.

Tho countryside is not affected and there i 3 virtually no interference with the war effort. In Calcutta there were no repercussions to the arrests of the Congress Party leaders and the few shops in that city winch- closed have reopened. The reported closing of some juto mills has no political significance and is attributable to trade factors. No reports of disturbances have come from outlying districts, and in Bengal the disturbances were confined to a few cities such as Bombay and Ahmcdij'bad which arc Congress strongholds and contain hooligans and elements of easily provoked and hot-headed students.

Further authoritative information received in London to-night indicates that, while reports from the provinces are not complete, the initial measures taken have not had serious results. Only in Delhi, Bombay, and the United Provinces have any serious clashes with the authorities been reported, and even there the trouble has been localised in a few centres like Bombay, Ahmedabad, Poona, Delhi, Lueknow, and Cawnporc. There has been no trouble in many centres where disturbances wero expected. Even in Bombay such centres of potential disorder as Bardoli and Sholapur are reported to be quiet. It will be some time before the situation can be judged definitely, but the official information from Delhi to-night is that wherever _ disturbances have occurred the situation is well in hand.—Official "Wireless

DEATHS NUMBER 53. A Press Association cable says that British armoured cars and troop lorries are now patrolling the streets of Bombay and Delhi. In these and other cities the riots led by Congress supporters have so far caused 53 deaths. The police opened fire several times on mobs in Bombay today. In one instance firing occurred when a crowd at Nasik attempted to snatch arms from the police escorting arrested persons. The rioters stabbed several constables and freed one prisoner. The police also fired on rioters in Old Delhi, Moradabad, Karachi, Cawnpore, Madras, Bassein and Ah-jmrdabad. In Madras the police fired in self-defence when a mob pelted them with stones. Two post offices were looted at Cawnpore. Six self-governing civic bodies in Nagpur have been suspended on the ground that they are supporting the Congress.