WEEK OF TERROR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16914, 1 April 1929, Page 11

WEEK OF TERROR

700 KILLED AND WOUNDED TROUBLE IK BOMBAY BOMBAY, Feb, 10, Bombay's week of toiror moans, in terms of casualties ascertfliaed from the hospitals, about 106 killed and nearly 600 wounded. How many concealed casualties there arc it is impossible to estimate Fights occurred in several parts oi the city last night, and this morning there is a long stream of killed and wounded being taken to hospital. most of the wounds being caused by knives or sticks. Parts of the city which are normally crowded to-day present a deserted appearance, and reports of isolated assaults arc continually being received.

Despite the gallant oft'om of the Citizens' Peace Committees, it is obvious that Bombay is as far as ever from returning to* tranquility. Passions hsve been aroused which nothing bnt exhaustion is now likely to allay, though it is often suggested that the proclamation of martial law 'might help thai- process. There is a eoromonly expressed desire at present to refrain from disenssjng the ca»s*s of these disturbances, bnt, apart from the political considerations indieatwl below, it may be said in terms ihat. their origin is partly economic, jwuily com»iw»al.

COMMCXAI. CWSfi-KS.

it wiii be rwneinWred tljat this atTair stntted with war on the Pathaas, who form a very small part of the million amt a quartet inhabitants of Bombay bw? who, for the most part, are nsofaily empHvesi as watchmen as well as for various kinds of W*rk requiring a si is>ng physiqne. The Patbans' also ply the irade of money !e«dia#, and it is possible that the nvill Operatives, im,|>o\ erished by last yoarV prolonged strike, are seißing the oppottnniiy to wipe owt old seorivs, Rat the character of the disturbances gradually became eommnnal when the rallio*! for selfdefence and began rotabating. Then followed the desecration of two w throe Himbt temples, and more than one Mahon»edan mesqwe was stoned, heavy casualty list is chiefly due to prolonged commimal fighting in a densely populated part of the' hacaar. which was o*d*d only when troops fired, A more remote, bnt undeniable cause of the disturbance is found in the ever-increasing disregard for law and order. The oersistent preaching !B* iitarfStoetas* and opposition to the GownttMnt has taken effect, and OwnDHnndst agitators and extremists in the Congress Party have found a wonderfully fertile soil in which to sow the seeds of sedition. CRITICISM OF GOVFRXMFNT. The. Government's tolerance of lawlessness has been carried to great lengths,- and this week the Bombay Government has been severely eriticisd for delay in calling out troops, and for tnen not calling out enough at first to make an effective demon stmt ion of force.

The latter defect has since fcften teetitied, bat since Thnrsilay, when the Government announced that there were ample forces to deal with any serious disorder, there have been seventy or eighty murders. If a further increase of this appalling casualtv list is to be prevented even greater military and police forces will probably be required, because the network of Iftnes and streets in the bazaar area is an ideal ground in which the disorderly elements can continue their guerrilla war. While the Government is thus engaged in trying to re-establish order amT security in Bombay Oity, another trial of strength appears to be developing in the Kasik district, where the agitation over land assessment, on the lines adopted last year in Bardoli, is being fostered. An attempt has been made there to boycott the Commissioner while on tour. follow him wanting the cultivators to keep away from him, and have even tried to prevent him from getting transport for kit. By such means is Government authorj'ity defied,