MOSLEM NATIONAL GUARD RAIDED

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5312, 27 January 1947, Page 5

MOSLEM NATIONAL GUARD RAIDED

(Press Assn.-

A'RRESTS IN LAHORE TO PREVENT EXPANSION OF PRIVATE ARMIES

-Rec. 9.80 p.m,).

LONDON, Jan. 25. Following a police raid on the Lahore office of the Moslem National Guard, sympathisers demonstrated in front of the Moslem League offices, shout'ing: "We shall not be content until we have Pakistan," and "Death to the Punjab Prime Minister" ' (Sir Khizar Hyat Khan) . Among several prominent Moslems arrested was Sir Firoykhan Noon, a former member of the Yiceroy's Executive Council and a former Indian High Commissioner in London. Police searched the nomes of the late Major Khurshid Anwar, leader of All India Moslem Guard, and Amir Hussain Shah, leader of the Provincial National Guard, before its raid on the offices. The action followed the Punjab Government declaration' that the Moslem National Guard was illegal. It is reported that the leaders, after a hurried consultation, decided to offer passive resistance to the search. The police also arrested Hussain Shah and Mumtaz Daultana, secretary of the Punjab Moslem League. After the arrests, the police hroke dcwn the locked doors of the offices. They also searched 22 small hranches of Rashtriya Swayam Seva Sangh, in various parts of the city. The Punjab Government has announced that the arrests and the searches were not directed against any party hut were intended only to prevent the expansion of the private communal armies which were a danger to all peaceful citizens. In New Delhi, Sardar Abdar Rab Nishtar, Minister of Communications in the Interim Government, said that the police raids, "appeare.d to be an attempt by the Punjab Government to kill the Moslem League Organisation hy force. But let me tell them that by the Grace of God they shall never succeed. Moslem Jndia will ncver take it lying down."

Additional Rioting In Bombay Area BOMBAY. January 26. The police opened fire In, the Hindu business quarter of Bombay to-day to disperse hooligans who were trying to set fire to a shop. One person was wounded. Tram and bus services were suspended in the same district after rioters had stoned vehicles. The Government of Bombay has renewed the .proclama'tion in Greater Bombay for another month, and has extended for another two months the han on the assemhly of more than five persons in the eity. Restrictions on the sale of arrns and ammunition have also been extended. The night passed peacefully in Jahore in the Punjab, after yesterday's demonstrations against the arrest of leaders of the Moslem League. Two small processions were broken up this morning. Mr. Jinnah is expected to be in Karachi in time for the meeting of the League Working Committee on Wednesday. The meeting, which will last about three days, will have two main items on its agenda. The resolution passed by the All-India Congress Committee on the British Government's statement about the grouping of provinces, and the arrest of Moslem League leaders in thejp-unijah. The Committee of Action of the Moslem League is to meet at Karachi next week.