UNREST IN INDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 26

UNREST IN INDIA.

MR GANDHI’S CAMPAIGN, NO SUPPORT FROM MOSLEMS. DELHI, April 22. Mohammed Yakub, Deputy President of the Assembly, speaking at an All India Moslem Conference in Bombay, described Mr Gandhi’s campaign as lawless, and he declared that Moslems would never countenance it, as it was a sham fraught with grave consequences and was bound to retard the country’s peaceful progress.

Yakub praised the Viceroy for his liberality, sympathy, and sincerity, and he finally appealed to Moslems to organise and present a united front.

AN INDIAN’S TREACHERY.

DELHI, April 21.

Two Britons—Mr J. L. Hutchinson, aged 45, manager of the Peshawar cantonments branch of the Imperial Bank of India, and Mr J. S. Dunsmore, aged 47, the bank’s travelling inspector — who left Peshawar on a sight-seeing trip to Khyber Pass, were murdered near Michnikdao, between Pashawar and Landikhana, allegedly by an Indian sergeant attached to their escort. The two men left Pashawar at daybreak in a hired motor car escorted by a sergeant and two frontier levies. It is stated that when near Michnikdao they left the car and walked ahead. Suddenly the sergeant crept up and fired point blank, killing the two men instantaneously. The frontier levies, seeing the treachery, thereupon shot and killed the sergeant. MANY CASUALTIES REPORTED. SOLDIERS BURNED TO DEATH. DELHI, April 24. Serious riots continue in India. At Sikkur, following a clash between Pathans, Sindhi, and Mohammedans, one Pathan was killed and three wounded. Two British soldiers were burned to death in armoured cars.

Twelve were killed and 12 injured at Peshawar. There seems little doubt that the Peshawar mob was emboldened by the reluctance of the authorities to fire. A huge mob surrounded armoured cars and poured kerosene over them. They were completely destroyed. Indian papers report very heavy casualties. It is reported that a British sergeant was pulled from a motor cycle by a mob and murdered with an axe. Additional troops were called out and opened fire with machine-guns. The situation was got under control and the military have now taken possession of the city, all the entrances being guarded. When the news reached Lahore a monster demonstration was held there, during which five Moslems and two Britons were injured.

THE CHITTAGONG OUTRAGE.

REBELS PURSUED TO HILLS.

DELHI, April 23.

Twelve of the Chittagong rebels were killed and many wounded in a running fight with a military search party. The troops first encountered 30 rebels fou.miles from Chittagong, and surrounded them, killing seven. The remainder retreated through the deuse jungle, where they were again surrounded, but managed to escape to the hills, pursued by troops armed with machine guns. Another fierce fight ensued, in which five rebels were killed. There were no casualties among the troops, who are still pursuing the insurgents. ' Several arrests have been made at Chittagong, where the citizens have been asked not to w’alk through the main streets after 9 o’clock at night. While four men, who were arrested in the train at Feni, in Eastern Bengal, on suspicion of complicity in the Chittagong outrage, were being searched in the station master’s ofliee, they drew revolvers and shot and wounded an inspector of police, two constables, a ticket collector, and the village policeman, and then escaped. Sixteen persons, including a number of students, have been arrested at Feni.

ORDER RESTORED IN PESHAWAR

BRITISH TROOPS WITHDRAWN, DELHI, April 25.

Twelve rioters are reported to have been killed by rifle and machine gun fire at Peshawar. Deputy Commissioner Mctcalf and Assistant Police Superintendent Carroll were seriously injured during a street battle. Order has now been restored and the British troops have been replaced by an Indian detachment. Armoured ears have been withdrawn. The agitators whose arrest caused the riot have been lodged in Peshawar Fort.

ANOTHER REBEL SHOT.

DELHI, April 24.

Another rebel concerned in the Chittagong outrage was shot dead during the hunt in the hills, which is being continued.

RESORT TO STONE-THROWING. DELHI, April 25.

While Peshawar is disturbed disorders are taking place at the other end of India at the Oorgaum gold mines, where strikers stoned the Lancers and special and reserve police. They continued throwing

stones, despite the magistrate’s warnings, and laughed derisively when the police fired a blank cartridge volley. Buckshot was then discharged, and 20 rioters were injured and taken to the hospital.

POSITION AT CHITTAGONG. DELHI, April 25. Mailed advices from Chittagong state that on Saturday night all the womenand children were accommodated on the 1 steamer Ghakdara, which cast off in mid-’ stream. On Sunday they returned to their homes, but spent the' night again' on the steamer Ekma. At first there was a shortage of ammunition and man-power. 1 There is now ample ammunition, and more troops have been telegraphed for.

POLICE FIRE ON MOB

DELHI, April 26.

At Necla, a salt manufacturing centre near Diamond Harbour, armed police fired on a mob of 3000 villagers, who, encouraged by congress volunteers, severely stoned the police, most of whom were badly bruised or gashed by knives. Patience proving of no avail, buckshot was ultimately fired, and two of the rioters and two police were taken to hospital.