INDIA SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 21717, 1 June 1932, Page 5

INDIA SITUATION

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE LITTLE CHANGE LAST WEEK POSITION AT BOMBAY (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 30. The situation in India during the past week was reviewed by Sir Samuel Hoare in answer to a question in the House of Commons. As regards the civil disobedience movement there had been little change, he said. Attempts had been made in one or two provinces to rouse interest and create trouble by holding provincial conferences to confirm resolutions, to pass which an attempt was made at the recent Delhi session. During the week there had been a renewal of communal rioting in Bombay City. The latest information was, in effect, that the position was still unsatisfactory and the affected areas were being patrolled by military. The return of troops brought into the city had been suspended and the number of motor patrols had been increased. Sir Samuel Hoare said an inquiry into complaints against police officers at Benares, who were accused of maltreating a number of young girls, had been completed by the District Magistrate and that all charged had been honourably acquitted. It appeared that eight women who had been arrested for causing disturbances were released after one hour’s detention when an investigation had shown that they were not persons of any importance. The evidence at the inquiry indicated that throughout the proceedings the women had been merely tools in the hands of the assistant-manager of the paper in which the allegations were first published. The District Magistrate concluded that the whole case against the police was false, that the story of the women being whipped was false, that the alleged beating had not taken place, and that there was little doubt the whole business was concocted for political purposes in revenge or to deter the police from dealing with women volunteers. ANGRY BOMBAY MOB BRITISH TROOPS ATTACKED. Calcutta, May 30. The Bombay riots took a nasty turn this morning when an angry mob attacked a detachment of British troops who were guarding the shops from looters. The troops charged with the butt end of their rifles, clearing the streets and injuring many. The casualties now total 80, including seven dead. The shops in the affected area are closed, while all vehicular traffic is suspended. Armoured cars are patrolling the streets.