INDIA USES TROOPS IN RIOTS, REVOLT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 15

INDIA USES TROOPS IN RIOTS, REVOLT

Tribesmen Capture Town In Assam State (A.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW DELHI. March 6. The Indian Government deployed Army troops in two areas of eastern India yesterday, in campaigns to crush a jungle tribal revolt and stem city rioting, the Associated Press reported.

The double eruption of violence confronted the Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, with her worst crisis since taking office in January and she conferred with India’s emergency Cabinet on what strategy to follow.

I Mizo tribesmen, skilled , guerrilla fighters, increased their week-long attacks on I Government posts in southeast Assam State yesterday. They captured one town, surrounded another and ambushed Government troops marching to the rescue. Assam officials said the situation was "grim” as they fought to contain the tough Mizos, who want an independent State. 21 Killed The Government radio said 21 Mizos were killed and nine captured in one clash. What the Government called “an extremely serious situation” exploded in thickly populated slum areas around the eastern city of Calcutta in West Bengal state. Troops were rushed to reinforce police units stoned and attacked by student-led mobs in the Calcutta suburb of Krishnagar and the 24-Par-ganas district. Government and private buildings were set on fire by mobs. Barricades were thrown up in the streets and train tracks were wrecked in “extreme mob violence.” The riots started as demonstrations earlier this week against shortages of rice and kerosene. But all India's social and economic ills plague Calcutta, and when police killed a 16-year-old student demonstrator on Friday, burning frustration and anger burst into action. Police fired into mobs yesterday as men set fire to railway stations at Krishnagar, Madanpur and Payarandanga. Sections of track were uprooted and train traffic was completely halted. Two have been killed and 16 injured since Friday. Buses were burned in the

streets of Calcutta. City officials took all buses off the streets until dawn today. Students stormed through the streets by the thousands. One group of 1000 or more paraded with the body of the 16-year-old and this set off a chain reaction of violence. Police threw tear gas bombs into one mob. It was estimated 100 or more persons, including policemen, were injured in the two days of ! violence. i Well over 100 people, mostly students, were arrested. The local West Bengal State Government was unable to exert a calming influence. The State Legislature has been in pandemonium for weeks with members fist fighting on the floor and the Speaker suspending many. Town Taken In south-eastern Assam. I Mizo tribesmen captured Lungleh, a town of about 5000. Its small garrison of Assam Rifles surrendered. The district headquarters town of Aijal was completely surrounded and its only road link to the outside world was cut by Mizos. Reports reaching the Assam Government said 800 tribes-

men. members of the "Mizo National Front." were ringing Aijal and closing in. The State Government at Shillong reported only a small section of Aijal was still held by the Government after savage fighting last night. Troops Ambushed Relief troops marching from Silchar were being ambushed and sniped at all the way. Blown bridges and cut roads slowed them. The Assam Chief Minister, B.P. Chaliha. told the State Legislature the situation in the tribal district was “very critical.” Mr Chaliha said the relief column moving toward Aijal had freed 62 civilians and Government officers captured by the Mizos. The tribesmen had occupied Demagiri, an isolated post near the Pakistan frontier and were exerting “heavy pressure" on Army and police units in remote areas, he said. The district is an 8183square mile strip of mountain jungle protruding south between north-west Burma and East Pakistan. About 300,000 Mizos, a tough Mongol people, inhabit it.