INDIAN BAN ON PRIVATE ARMIES

Grey River Argus, 4 February 1948, Page 5

INDIAN BAN ON PRIVATE ARMIES

Arrest of Over 300 Leaders of Mahasabha (Rec. 8.35) LONDON, Feb. 3 The Inaian Government have declared war on communal violence and have imposed a ban on “private armies.” In view of the manner of Mahatma Gandhi’s death, the Government’s action is welcomed as a demonstration of solidarity in a critical hour says the “Daily Telegraph’s” New Delhi correspondent. “It is published in the form of two Government resolutions in the Extraordinary Gazette. First pledges of fidelity to Mahatma Gandhi’s example of religious toleration and non-violence. The other states that the Government will ‘act with determination and justice.’ It Cjdds, too: ‘The forces of hate and violence must swiftly be controlled and routed out. There is no place today in India for any organisation preaching violence or communal hatred. No such organisation will, therefore, be tolerated. No private armies will be permitted.’ ” (Rec. 11.5). NEW DELHI. Feb. 3. Following a decision by the Indian Cabinet to outlaw private armies and organisations preaching communal violence, the authorities have arrested more than three hundred leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha in the cities of Ngapur, Cawnpore, Lucknow, and Gorakpur. (Rec. 11.5). LONDON; February. 3. A Reuter message from Madras says: Leaders of the Mahasabha’s militant volunteer organisation in Madras have issued an order as follows: “Stop all activities until the situation clears”.