ROUGH JUSTICE IN BULGARIA

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3497, 5 November 1926, Page 8

ROUGH JUSTICE IN BULGARIA

PEASANTS SHOT FOR HELPING BRIGANDS. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON. Nov. 3. Tho “Times” Sofia correspondent says that astonishing revelations arc made regarding the reprisals upon Bulgarian peasants who were believed to bo friends of a notorious brigand band numbering 30. It appears that both agrarian emigres and Soviet agents utilised the brigands to carry on revolutionary movements. They spread terror in many country districts and carried out a scries of daring robberies, culminating in the rifling from a postal van of several sacks of bank notes. They also killed several police and other officials. Martial law was then proclaimed in the terrorised districts. Troops were sent, but spies enabled the band to escape. After several encounters, in which four of their number wore killed, the band took refuge in Jugoslavia. Troops then attacked tho peasants and shot over 100 agrarians and Communists, including women, allegedly because they were suspected of having relations with the brigands. Many were executed without trial. The Agrarian Party has now appealed to the Government to ensure that the troops observe legal formalities in their ’ efforts to stamp out political brigandage.