India Arrests Communist Ringleaders

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1949, Page 5

India Arrests Communist Ringleaders

Received Monday, 7.30 p.m. NEW DELH1, Feb. 21. Five hundred arrests have been made throughout India in the last two days of Uommuinst ringleaders who planned to attack power houses, woikshops, signal boxes and bridges on raiiways and other eommunications, says the Dailv Herald's eorrespondent. A high oHieial of the Home Oftiee Said the Government had delinite information that Uommunists wanted to use the raihvay strike ealled for March 9 for extensive sabotage. Seeret eirculars detailing Communist intentions to use explosives against vital installations, had been discovered and led 10 the round-up. Some postal and telegraph workers who planned to strike have also been arrested. Armed poliee are guarding key points, patrolling traeks, and watching pumping stations and power houses. The Government lias banned the Communist paper People 's Age in West Bengal. 4 Arrests over the weekend bring the total nuniber of Communists detained in India to about 1(500. The Indian Government is expeeted to introduee a Bill making strikes in essential services illegal when "promoted for party ends." The Indian Government has an nounced the arrest of the Sikh eonimunal party leader, Tara Kingh, ''in the interests of public security, " reports an Assoeiated Press eorrespondent. The Governme'nt stated that, m spite of Tara Singh's promise not to eall a political conferenee organised by the communal party, which aims at an all-Sikh State, Sikhs from all over India poured into New Delhi in response to telegrams from Tara Singh to attend sueh a conferenee. The Government considered this to be. an "opou and resolute challenge, " and banned the conferenee.