CURFEW ENFORCED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26407, 11 March 1947, Page 5

CURFEW ENFORCED

BRITISH* TROOPS IN PUNJAB SITUATION BECOMING EASIER Rec. 7.30 p.m. LAHORE, Mar. 9. BBritish troops patrolling Amritsar had to fire seven times to enforce the curfew. Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Jullunder had a quiet night, but to-day two Lahore shopkeepers were stabbed while opening their shops. Sir Evan Jenkins, the Governor of Punjab, after an inspection flight over the Rawalpindi area, issued a communique saying that the situation generally is being brought under control. The communique added, that the troops were prepared to take very strong action. All persons have been informed that they may be shot on sight on the slightest disobedience of the orders. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that, although Multan remained quiet, there were further reports from the surrounding villages of attacks on Hindu properties and the looting of houses and shops. Small Hindu and Sikh minorities in the agricultural villages round Multan and Rawalpindi were undefended when the disorders began. Many were killed and their homes destroyed. The Moslem peasantry’s looting and burning deprived its own community of its main source of necessities. More British troops are ariving and will be drafted into the countryside.