Indian Forces Make Progress In Hyderabad Fighting

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 September 1948, Page 5

Indian Forces Make Progress In Hyderabad Fighting

Urge To Pakistan To Declare War

Received 11.40 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 14 Reports from Hyderabad say that Indian forces invading the State of Hyderabad have made progress at two points. From New Delhi it is reported that in Karachi, Moslems have demanded that Pakistan declare war on India. Hyderabad radio, says Renter’s Lahore correspondent, said that on the southern front Hyderabad forces had stopped an Indian advance, and in the west had inflicted more than 250 casualties on Indian troops advancing from Sholapur.

Severe fighting was continuing in the Usmanabad area. An Indian Army communique reported that Indian forces had penetrated within 100 miles of Hyderabad city, both east and west. The Associated Press Karachi correspondent says a Hyderabad defence communique announced that 1000 casualties had been inflicted on Indian troops on all fronts. The radio also claimed that in the north-west sector the advance of armoured Indian forces towards Aurangabad had also been stopped and added that Indian planes bombed Marangal, Bidar and Adilabad airfields. While New Delhi was quiet with Moslems moving about normally, crowds in Karachi packed the main streets, demanding that Pakistan should declare war on India says an Associated Press correspondent. Demonstrators shouted, “long live the Nizam; down with the Indian union.” Pakistan’s Moslem League requested Liaquat Ali Khan to clarify the

? Government’s attitude to the Hyderabad situation. Ali Khan assured a deI nutation of demonstrators, “it would I not be in the public’s interest to disclose the Government’s approach to a delicate problem,” but the GovemI ment “is painfully alive to the situation.” I Five processions reached Prime I Minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s residence. Meanwhile 50 prominent New Delhi Moslems .in a written statement assured the Indian Government of their all-out support for the campaign agaist Hydrabad. e The Governor-General of India, Mr. i- RajagopalaChari, declared that a i- grave emergency existed, in which ind ternal disturbances would threaten I, India’s security. Consequently police and military forces have been given h extraordinary powers to meet any r , emergence n The British United Press Poona corn respondent says that Indian planes n dropped over Hyderabad leaflets con- »- taining the text of a statement that e the Indian troops would stay in ” Hyderabad no longer than was necessary for the effective restoration of e I normal conditions.