FAKIR MUST BE CAPTURED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 77, 17 April 1937, Page 5

FAKIR MUST BE CAPTURED

-Pr6§i Assn.— Copyright.)

30,000 British Troops To Go to Waziristan WILL RAIO FASTNESS

(By Telegraph—

' (Received 17, 11.15 a.m.) DELHI, April 16. Followifig the nine-hours battle at the week-efid ifi Which -27 British troops were killed, the Eakir of Ipi has turned a deaf ear to the tribfil elders' appCals to desist his anti-British activities, Ctm'sequently, militafy .measilres have been tightened, ififtludifig speeial stepi tb preVefit p?5visions l'eaching the hostile tribes, Who are wdrked up to a fanatical fury by his propttgandaj ' Tht't'b will soon be 30,000 British troo^ •, indludifig two tafik bfigades, Operating in Waziristafi in the hope of investing the Fakir's cave faatnpsS ifi the Scrub-covered Shaktu V allOy. Mirga Ali Khafi, the Fakif of Ipi, for 12 years has fomented and led tribal eutbursts against British authb* fity. The ffikir is an atnazing charac4 tef. Be is a hiinibly born man of the people, yet at 24 he had become, by sheer force of personality, a fakir, or high religious leader. - This COtfibina* tiofi bf religious power ovCr his folloW* ers and d&ring as a warrior has made the fakir the terfbr of the frbfitier country. He is an expert horsenianj using small ponies that can dash up the Side of a moUfitain. He is &n unoanny shot, using, wherever he can, a pbwerf ul rifle stolen from the British stores in India, No one knows where he lives. Secret Bervice mefi have sought him high and loW, but WithoUt success. He travels with ificredible speed, and commafids fanatical loyalty. No one will give him away. He workB his fbllow6fs up to a piteli of frenzy, in which they are prepared for anything. He playS on their religious prejudices, tells them that this or that action by the British is a blow at Islam. Last November British soldiers were shot by his men. British reinfoi'CemfthtS Wero yushed up. Quiet Was festored. The fakir Iay low. The British troops were withdrawn ifi Jafiuary. The fakir reappeared. No oue kfieW where he had been. Murder gafigs began their out* iages again. Everywhere, the red beard of the fakir, his flashing eyes, his sute aim, encouragcd his followers. Two British offlcers were murdcted hs they mbtored through the fakir'# territory. All elforts to find the murderers have failefl. A column ef British Indian troops was attacked. Last spring a man of his following abducted a Hindu girl, fercibly marriCd her, made her a Mohammedan. The man. was punished by the British. It was enough — the fakir played on the feelings of his followers, and made them a menace to the British, Now the command has gone forth that the fakir must be captured.