Raiders Within Ten Miles of Capital

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26607, 1 November 1947, Page 7

Raiders Within Ten Miles of Capital

NEW DELHI, Oct. 30. A, special correspondent of Statesman of India, who to-day returned to New Delhi from Srinagar by air. reported that the raiders, who call themselves “Free Kashmir" forces, were making some progress, and were at Gulmarg, within 10 miles of the Kashmir capital. The raiders had burned the Maharajah’s local palace and had captured Gulmarg. a popular AngloIndian summer resort. The correspondent added that after an air attack the village of Petta remained in the hands of raiders, who were bringing up reinforcements from tribal areas and the Hazara district of North Punjab. A communique issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs says that *here is an immediate danger of the raiders reaching Srinagar ahd destroying and sacking the capital and massacring a large number of inhabitants, both Hindus and Moslems. The communique declared that the Government two days ago asked the Pakistan Government to seal up the Pakistan-Kashmir border to prevent the raiders getting into Kashmir. The Ministry’s statement added that the security of Kashmir, the northern borders of which were contiguous m Russia, Afghanistan, and China, was vital to the security of India. Indian troops sent into Kashmir found the raiders “ in some strength.” using moder-n weapons, including machine guns, mortars, and artillery, sajjs an Indian Army communique. Spitfires*of the Indian Air Force yesterday strafed rebel tribesmen in Kashmir “ with good effect." The tribesmen were in reinforcement column west of Srinagar. They scurried into the woods and suffered casualties. The communique adds that Indian troops have been sent into Jammu, the predominantly Hindu province of Kashmir Lieutenant-colonel D. R. Rai. commanding the Indian forces in Srinagar, was killed when conducting

the withdrawal from Baramula on Monday. An army spokesman, just returned from Srinagar, said the situation was being-stabilised to-day. Scores of refugees, mostly women and children from Srinagar, occupied the whole floor space at Willingdon airfield offices/ near New Delhi. The airfield was heavily guarded, One airline official estimated that about 20 aircraft were how engaged on “ Operation Srinagar." Nine 8.0.A.C. airliners chartered by the Indian Government to evacuate nonMoslems from West Pakistan were now being.used in the Srinagar shuttle service. “We have been the victims of a deep-laid plot, executed with utter disregard for the elementary principles of honesty, chivalry and honour,” said Mr Jinnah, in a speech. He -thanked Providence for giving Pakistan courage and faith to fight the forces of evil. Their enemies would not succeed in their designs, but a grave and dangerous situation confronted the Dominion. A London report says that an assurance “ without reservation ” that British officers would not be employed in combatant capacities by either side in the Kashmir dispute was given by the Commonwealth Relations Minister, Mr Noel Baker, in answer to Mr Churchill in-the House of Commons. He said that it was hoped the conference between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan and Lord Mountbatten. which had been postponed through Mr Nehru’s illness, would be held at Lahore on November 1. There were about 305 British nationals in Kashmir when the trouble began. Two hundred of them elected to leave,»and aircraft had been sent yesterday to evacuate them. “ The conference will have grave urgent problems to solve," said Mr Noel Baker, “and it will be only by frank consultation at the highest level that a solution can be found.”