UGLY SITUATION IN NEW DELHI

Southland Times, Issue 24821, 13 August 1942, Page 5

UGLY SITUATION IN NEW DELHI

Police And Troops

Open Fire

(Rec. 8.25 p.m.) NEW DELHI, Aug. 11. It is officially reported that an angry crowd killed a Moslem police subinspector near the railway clearing accounts office, which was burned out. The situation became ugly this morning because of the activities of a large crowd of mill workers. The Town Hall was practically destroyed by fire and the income-tax office was burned down. Many pillar boxes were uprooted. The police and troops were frequently forced to open fire and numerous mill workers and students were arrested. Strong military reinforcements have arrived and troops are patrolling the streets. Despatches from India report, that demonstrations accompanied by indiscriminate violence and the wrecking of public property continued on Monday in parts of Bombay and Delhi. Communications were interrupted and stones were thrown at the police, who used tear gas, but when the mobs did not disperse, fired. They were supported by troops with sub-machine guns. Several deaths have been reported. Poona and Ahmedabad are quieter. Several schools and colleges in various places are reported to be closed, the students having gone on strike. GOVERNOR’S WARNING The Governor of Bombay, Sir Roger Lumley, in a broadcast, has declared: “I am going to maintain order at any -cost. I now give plain warning that the troops and the police have been ordered to take the strongest measures wherever necessary.” Further Government measures against rioting include the application I of the Emergency Whipping Act. Rioting in the northern sector of Bombay city took a grave turn today. It is now unsafe for anyone to appear in this area wearing a western hat or necktie. The police were ordered to fire in four places during the morning and troops on two occasions participated in the firing on the riotous crowds but, on these two occasions, as when the police were involved, onlyja few shots were fired each time. Troops patrolling in armoured cars have discouraged the, demonstrators considerably in other cities. The arrests of prominent members of the Congress Party continue in various provinces. The Provincial, Government, implementing the banning of the Congress Committees in Allahabad, has prohibited all processions and meetings for 10 days. RAILWAY STATION ATTACKED The position in North Bombay worsened during Monday afternoon with the dislocation of suburban rail services. A large crowd attacked the Matunga railway station, smashing the indicators, invading the booking office and pulling down the ticket shelves. The crowd then broke up into groups and smashed fire hydrants and fire alarms and lamp posts. The Matunga Post Office has been closed after the cutting of the telegraph wire. The rioters have also cut several gas mains. Bonfires in the streets have been fed with trees uprooted from the street. Hats, neckties and other articles of European clothing have been snatched from passers-by and also copies of t(ie British-owned Times of India newspaper. There was no trading in any markets in Bombay on Monday. Schools and colleges were closed or had very scanty attendances and mobs of students demonstrated, parading in front of shops to prevent their reopening. 'Hie East India Cotton Association the biggest cotton market in India, is closing until August 15. More mills have been closed in Bombay. Disturbances occurred in Delhi’s busiest street on Monday morning. Rioters, after setting fire to a fire engine and a lorry, attempted to set fire to the Municipal Hall. The police opened fire, killing one and wounding another. British troops were called out and are now patrolling the area. Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan, Premier of the Punjab, who is visiting troops in the Western Desert, said: “Congress’s unpatriotic action is a cowardly betrayal of the Motherland and of hundreds of thousands of gallant countrymen who are shedding their blood a thousand miles from home to save India from subjugation to fascism. I am confident that all patriotic Indians will see to it that the men who are fighting our battles are not betrayed.”

CHINESE SUPPORT FOR CONGRESS

LONDON, August 11.

The Associated Press of America correspondent in Chunking reports that Dr Sun Fo, president of the Legislative Yuan, has declared that Chinese sympathies are entirely with the Indians. It is understood that the Chinese Press tomorrow will proclaim its support for the Indan Congress jparty leaders and will urge the British to strive for a peaceful settlement. The correspondent says it is impossible to predict the effect of China’s attitude on Anglo-Chinese relations, but Chinese official reaction is clearly crystallizing in favour of India. The Indian problem is crucial for China because her supply routes are through India. The Chinese spokesman, asked whether China would be willing to mediate in the Indian dispute replied that if there was anything China could do she would be very glad to do it. The spokesman also indicated that Japan was preparing to attack India in the autumn and reported that Japanese transports had delivered fresh divisions on July 27 and 28 to Haiphong and Saigon in Indo-China, where they had entrained for Thailand and Burma, where they could attack Eastern India. Also the Japanese had concentrated a large group of warships off Northern Formosa, probably for an attack on Fukien. Concerning the Solomons, he said the Allied attack was a very significant and very timely offensive. The action was one of the most heartening pieces of news so far received.