Defiant Rioters

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 11

Defiant Rioters

OFFICERS KILLED IN INDIA

Dispelled By Buckshot

WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNSAFE ASHORE

FIERCE rioting at Peshawar, India, has resulted in the death of several British officers. Two armoured ears were burned, and the-rioters defied the troops, who were forced to discharge buckshot into the mob, sending a large number to hospital. Munitions and men are being sent to quell these outbreaks. At one place a British soldier was dragged from his motor-cycle and murdered with an axe.

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. DELHI, Friday. Twelve rioters are reported to have been killed by rifle and machine-gun fire at Peshawar. Deputy-Commissioner Metcalfe and Assistant-Superintendent Carroll were seriously injured during the street battle. Order has now been restored, and the British troops have been replaced by Indian detachments. The armoured cars have been withdrawn, 'ike agitators, whose arrest caused the riot, have been lodged in Peshawar Fort. At Sikkur, following upon a clash between Pathans and Mahommedans, one Pathan was killed and three were wounded. Two British soldiers were burned to death in armoured Shrs. Twelve people were killed and 12 others were injured at Peshawar. There seems little doubt that the Peshawar mob was emboldened by the reluctance of the authorities to fire. A huge mob surrounded the armoured cars and poured kerosene over them and they were completely destroyed. Indian newspapers report very heavy casualties. It is stated that a

British sergeant was pulled from a motor-cycle by the mob and murdered with an axe. Additional troops were called out and opened fire with machine-guns. The situation was got under control end the military have now taken possession of the city, all entrances to which are guarded. When the news reached Lahore a monster demonstration was held there during which five Moslems and two British subjects were injured. ■ CALLED THEIR BLUFF While Peshawar was disturbed, disorders were taking place at the other end of India at the Oorgaum gold mines, where strikers stoned the special and reserve police. They continued throwing despite the magistrate’s warnings, and laughed derisively when the police fired blank cartridges. A volley of buckshot was then discharged and 20 rioters were injured and sent to hospital. Mailed advices from Chittagong state that on Saturday night all women and children were accommodated on the steamer Chakdara. which cast off in midstream, and on Sunday they returned to their home, but spent the night again on the steamer Ekma. At first there was a shortage of ammunition and man-power, but now there is ample ammunition, and more troops have been telegraphed for.