RIOTS IN INDIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20063, 21 March 1935, Page 7

RIOTS IN INDIA

ANGRY MOSLEM PROTESTS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright CALCUTTA, March 19. A message from Karachi says that Abdul Quayam, a Moslem, was executed for the murder of a Hindu who wrote offensively against Mahomet. A huge crowd of angry Moslems rushed the cemetery, exhumed Quayam’s body and attempted to carry it in a procession. The police, who interfered, Were stoned by Moslems. The military were called out, and fired on the demonstrators. Twenty were killed and 60 injured. FANATICAL OUTBURSTS PANIC FOLLOWS COUNTER MEASURES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright KARACHI, March 19. It is now estimated that the total killed and injured is over 200. The execution was postponed a forthight ago owing to the Moslems stoning the police. To-day 100,000 fanatical Moslems, including women and children, paraded the streets with the exhumed body and menacingly refused to make way for a party of British officers and troops. The officers fired their revolvers in the air, whereupon the infuriated rioters stoned and threw bottles at the officers and troops. The latter fired, wounding several. Later the police placed a cordon across the road, threatening to fire if the rioters did not disperse. The mob bearing the corpse continued to advance, whereupon the police fired a volley. A panic ensued. The police seized the body, which was reburied. Rising Casualty Rate Later messages report that at least twenty-seven persons were killed and over 100 injured in the rioting over the Quayam execution. MOUNTING DEATH ROLL AMAZING SCENES WITNESSED United Press Association—By Electric Te! egraph—Copyright (Received March 20, 11.48 p.m.) KARACHI, March 20. The Moslems death roll now totals 40 and it is feared that many more will die. The situation at present is calm but the Sussex regiment and armed police are patrolling the city. Amazing scenes were witnessed before the clash occurred, when nearly 50,000 Moslems prayed by the exhumed coffin of the executed man. Even after the troops fired, thousands of fanatical Moslems refused to abandon the coffin, but the religious leaders eventually persuaded them to place the body in the original grave. A British officer and three Indian magistrates were injured by missiles. Influential Hindu and Moslem citizens are raising a fund for the relief of the families of the dead.