Moslems and Troops Clash

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 67, 21 March 1935, Page 7

Moslems and Troops Clash

Parade With Body of Executed Moslem

HUNDRED THOUSAND IN PROCESSION

Unite! Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. CALCUTTA, March 19. A message from Karachi states that Abdul Quayam, a Moslem, was executed for the murder of a Hindu, who wrote offensively against Mahommcdan ism.

A huge crowd of angry Moslems rushed the cemetery and exhumed Quayam’s body and attempted to carry it in a procession. The police interfered and were stoned by Moslems. The military, who were called out, fired on the demonstrators. It is estimated that the total number killed and injured is over 200. Tho execution was postponed a fortnight ago owing to Moslems stoning tho police. To-day 100,000 fanatical Moslems, including women and children, paraded tho. streets with the exhumed body and menacingly refused to make way for a party of British officers and troops. Officers fired revolvers in the air, whereupon the infuriated rioters stoned and threw bottles at the officers and troops. The latter fired, wounding several. Later tho police placed a cordon across the road and threatened to fire if the rioteis did not disperse. Tho mob bearing the corpse continued to advance, whereupon tho police fired a. volley. Panic ensued and the police seized the body which was re J buried. A sensation occurred in Karachi last September when a young Sind Hindu author was murdered in Court. He hail written a book, “Islamic History,” in which offence had been given to Mahommedans and lie had been sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour. While he was waiting in Court for the hearing of his appeal he was rushed by three Pnthan Moslems, who stabbed him to death. Death-roll Now Forty AMAZING SCENES BEFORE CLASH OCCURRED Received Thursday, 12.10 a.m. KARACHI, March 20. The Moslems’ death-roll is now 40 and it is feared that many more will die. The situation is at present calm, but the Sussex Regiment and armed police ’arc patrolling the city. There were amazing scenes before the clash occurred, when nearly 50,000 prayed by the exhumed coffin of the executed man. Even after the troops fired, thousands of fanatical Moslems refused to abandon the coffin, but the religious leaders eventually persuaded them to place the body in its original grave. A British officer and three Indian Magistrate’s were injured by missiles. Influential Hindu and Moslem citizens are raising a fund for tho relief of families of the dead.