UNSETTLED INDIA

Southland Times, Issue 21100, 4 June 1930, Page 5

UNSETTLED INDIA

SITUATION REVIEWED

TROUBLE IN PESHAWAR DISTRICT POLICE OFFICER KILLED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, June 2. The India Office issues an appreciation of the situation in India to May 31. The statement says: The tribal situation remains much as before. The movements of small parties of the Utemekhel continue to be reported, but hitherto no considerable gathering has been observed near the borders of the Peshawar district and no overt act of hostility has occurred. The situation in the Peshawar district has been less satisfactory during the past week. On May 26 the arrest of six persons from Takkar, a village led to a clash with the police, in which the assistant superintendent of police was killed. On the 29th Takkar was surrounded by police and troops, and 36 arrests were effected. Fire was opened upon a cordon of troops by a gathering from the adjacent villages. The Red Shirts are still reported to be very active, especially in the Hashtnagar tract of Charsadda Tashsil. Peshawar City is reported quiet, and conditions are gradually returning to normal in other parts of India. The outstanding feature of the week has been local disorders at a number of places. The most serious of these occurred at Rangoon, where in consequence of ill-feeling arising out of the claims of Burmese and Indians respectively for employment, fighting broke out between the two communities and continued with great bitterness. It is not possible at present to state the casualties, but on May 30 it was reported that the deaths exceeded 100 and the number of persons who received hospital treatment was approximately 800. Still Seme Tension. No ill feeling has been shown towards the police or Europeans. On the 30th the situation appeared to be under control, but the atmosphere was still very tense. In order to relieve the situation by obtaining a speedy settlement of the labour dispute, a conciliation board has been appointed under the Trades Disputes Act. At Dacca a tribal quarrel between schoolboys was the cause of serious disturbances between Hindus and Mohammedans, and the trouble spread Io some rural areas, where incendiarism and looting occurred. The situation in Dacca itself is now in hand and is improving elsewhere. The casualties may prove considerable. The cause of rioting at Lucknow was the persistent attempt of Congress to take a procession through part of the station in which processions had not previously been allowed and were specifically forbidden. On this occasion on May 26 troops were called out to aid the civil police, but as the situation seemed quiet the troops were allowed toreturn to their barracks. Attack on Police Station. Almost immediately, however, after their departure a dangerous mob attacked the police station and attempted to burn it down. A severe struggle at close quarters between them continued for some time, and later the police had to fire before the crowd dispersed. The situation was quickly brought under control, but precautionary measures have had to be taken to prevent a recrudescence of disorder. On the night of May 26 a clash occurred between the police and Mohammedan troops in Bombay as a result of an incident in which a sergeant of police and a Mohammedan were concerned. The police had to fire, and the situation during the uight necessitated the calling out of troops. There was some recrudescence of the trouble next day, but it was quickly brought under control, the troops not being called upon to fire. In Bombay Presidency raids on the salt works have been attempted on several occasions during the week, especially at Wadala, near Bombay, where the efforts of Congress volunteers have become more forcible. A considerable strain has been placed on the police in carrying out arrests and dispersing hostile crowds, but they have successfully prevented volunteers attaining their objective.