MOSLEMS AND HINDUS CLASH IN INDIA

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5310, 24 January 1947, Page 5

MOSLEMS AND HINDUS CLASH IN INDIA

CALCUTTA, Jan. 23. The Government of Bengal has declared a state of emergency in the 'Dakar area where there were communal disturbances some time ago. The Governor says that bitterness and suspicion still persist between Moslems and Hindus and the possibility of fresh outbreaks of communal strikes cannot he ignored. Bombay police to-day opened fire several times in one district of the city where Moslem and Hindu crowds had clashed. Some people were taken to hospital with bullet wounds. The trouble began when Hindu groups were beginning to celebrate the birthday of the late Chandra Bose, war-time leader of the Japan-ese-sponsored Free India Movement. There was much stone-throwing and some cases of looting and arson. Correspondents say that the police prevented serious fighting and troops have now been post-ed in the district. In other parts of Bombay tram and bus services were auspended because of student demonstrations. Five people were arrested for interfering ■with traffic. All the 68 textile mills in the city, as well as many workskops and markets, remained closed. In Calcutta, the Congres.s Party leader, Mr. Nehru, appealed to the citizens to observe the day peacefully. Some interested people, he said, were trying to thro-w the whole city into confusion and harm the national cause. The Calcutta tramway strike continued for the third day.