Fierce Riots

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 952, 21 April 1930, Page 9

Fierce Riots

INDIAN CLASH KILLS SEVEN

Two British Subjects

AUTHORITIES SUPPRESS TERRORISTS United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 10.5 a.m. DELHI. Sunday. SEVEN men were killed at Chittagong when a mob of insurgents attacked and destroyed the railway and police armouries. Reports now filtering through reveal that the # revolt was carefully prepared and organised, and the authorities were completely surprised.

The raiders, who are believed to number 100, escaped to the hills, which are being scoured by armed police and auxiliary forces. The casualties are seven dead, including two British subjects, two constables, three taxi-drivers and several wounded. The Government of India, as a result of this occurrence, has promulgated the Bengal Ordinance to suppress terrorist outrages. The Viceroy’s Executive Council met yesterday, and, it is understood, reviewed the situation in Bengal and other parts of the country, and tile necessity for military and police measures. The Chittagong trouble is considered to be localised. The situation throughout the country is well under control. All the civilian railway employees at Chittagong are safe, as also are the women and children, for whom accommodation has been found. The police and local auxiliary forces are endeavouring to round up the insurgents. A detachment of an eastern frontier force of rifles under Lieutenant-Colonel Dalis Smith left Calcutta for Chittagong. It is understood that the railway telegraph office at Chittagong was destroyed by fire. Telegraph communication with the town is interrupted. Chittagong, which is the second port of Bengal, is the headquarters of the Assam-Bengal railway and the centre of large European business interests. Seventeen Bengalis, including the secretary of the Jute Workers’ Union and members of students’ and congress organisations, have been arrested at Calcutta. Regular and auxiliary forces of

armoured cars are standing by and gunsmiths’ shops are guarded. Gurkhas and mounted police are patrolling Bhowanipore, where there was rioting on Tuesday last. The events at Chittogong are regarded in official circles as adding special importance to Gandhi’s revival of the no-tax campaign at Bardili. Gandhi charges the Government with having provoked the Calcutta and Karachi riots by banning public meetings and processions, but says the outbreak of violence “hurts me because it hurts the cause I hold dear as life itself.” Gandhi’s son, Davidas, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for violating the salt-tax laws. THRILLING ESCAPE The District Magistrate of Chittagong, Mr. H. Wilkinson, had a dramatic escape. He was endeavouring to cut off the rebels, when his car was fired on. His Indian orderly was killed and his chauffeur wounded. The car was riddled with bullets. The revolutionaries carried out the raid in motor-cars, four of which were discovered abandoned many miles from the city. Five men have -been arrested, two of whom were injured. A quantity of rifles and ammunition also was captured. It is estimated that 60 took part in the raid and that a number was hiding in the hills. The town has been picketed by an auxiliary force today. The dead include Sergeant-Major J. Farrell, formerly of the Lancashire Regiment, who was killed while gallantly defending the auxiliary armoury. Four Bengal extremist leaders, including Bepin Behari Ganguly, President of the Congress Committee, have been arrested at Rajshahi in connection with Gandhi’s campaign.