BOMBAY QUIETER

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1932, Page 3

BOMBAY QUIETER

POSITION IN HAND

AUXILIARY FORCES DISBANDED

(British Official Wireless.)

RTrGBY, May 24,

The situation in Bombay has great y improved and is so well in hand that

a/1 the auxiliary iorces have been d'sbanded and tli© withdrawal has begun of the military pickets. Further sporadic outbreaks are still possible, as the communal feeling, which always runs high in Bombay, is aggravated by continuance of the political ten.sir;:i and the embitterment caused by economic conditions, but ail though the position cannot be reported to be j ab.so.utely stable, there are signs of a return to normal, conditions and the rnih' bands -show an increasing tendency j to return to work. i

in the House of Commons, 'Sir iSamuol ‘Hoai’e said that the rioting was not organised and did not take the form of clashes between considerable bodies, but consisted of surprise attacks on temples and mosques, or

shops, and murderous attacks by gangs of both communities. The casualties were mostly inflicted in isolated encounters, many being stabbing cases, and the gangs dispersed rapidly on the approach of patrols, who found the stria s empty on' their arrival.'

The curfew order and the order prohibiting assemblies, together with the establishment of military and police pests, prevented the formation of large bodies, and the combing out by the police and military of bad characters, who hav e been placed in an emergency gaol, stopped the looting and incendiarism. By the end of last wick the casualties numbered 130 dead and 1640

injured. In the mill area, where serioi : trouble threatened, pickets and patrols prevented large clashes, and fi operatives Who ceased work at fortynine mills on Thursday began to return, so that on Saturday only fourteen were closed. Tine position has continued to improve, but the Bombay Government will not rentx its intensive precautions until order has been completely re-established. Asked whether the Congress volunteers, who claimed to control the Hindu population, had actively supported the Government in restoring law and order, Sir Samuel Hoare replied that ?o far from being a help, they had been in certain cases a public danger and in all cases a public nuisance.