POLICE FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 5

POLICE FIRE

CROWDS IN OLD DELHI VICTORY CELEBRATIONS Recd. 6 p.m. New Delhi, March 7. Police opened fire three times this afternoon at unruly crowds demonstrating in Old Delhi against the victory celebrations. It is officially stated that nobody was killed, but six persons were injured. A curfew’ between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. has been imposed *>. Old Delhi “until the situation returns to normal.’’ Gurkha troops were called out to help preserve order and deal w?h the crowds in one area, but were withdrawn after the demonstrators dispersed. Many demonstrators reassembled shouting slogans as the troops drove off, but were again dispersed by the police Police dispersed a crowd near the Delhi Town Hall with tear gas, which was also used against Town Hall with tear gas, which was a crowd following a police van. Armed police scattered a crowd erecting a road-block and rounded up a number of people. Earlier, about 100 children carrying black flags attached the booking office of th" Delhi railway station and attempted to set it on fire. They were chased off by police. The Viceroy, Lord Wavell, and Admiral Mountbatten reviewed to-day’s victory parade. The procession was Six miles long. An order banning meetings and processions for 48 hours was issued in Delhi this afternoon. An official communique says: “Several cases of incendiarism occurred in the streets, but no serious damage was done. Crowds were promptly dispersed and some arrests made.” Crowds of students and mill workers stoned passing vehicles, tore down decorative arches, and set fire to two buildings while the procession was passing through the streets of New Delhi.