Fights In India

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 988, 3 June 1930, Page 9

Fights In India

TENSION IN TROUBLED AREAS Troops Forced To Open Fire INDIA OFFICE REVIEWS SITUATION British Official lrireicss Received 1.20 p.ru. RUGB\ . Monday. 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 Utemekhel continue to he reported, hut hitherto no considerable gathering has been observed near the borders of the Peshawar district, and no overt act of hostility lvas occurred.

The situation in the Peshawar district has been less satisfactory during the past week. On May 24, the arrest of six persons from the Takkar village led to a clash with the police in which the Assistant Superintendent of Police was killed. On May 29 the Takkar village was surrounded by the police and troops and 36 arrests were effected. Fire was opened upon a cordon of ; troops by a gathering from adjacent j villages. The Red Shirts are still reported to be very active, especially in Hashtnagar. Peshawar city is reported quiet, and conditions gradually are 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 oil feeling arising out of claims of the Rangoon, where in consequence of ill 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 deaths exceeded 100 and the number of persons who received hospital treatment was approximately 800. ® AIR TENSE No ill-feeling has been shown toward the police or Europeans. On May 30 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 the Hindus and the Mohammedans, and the trouble

spread to some rural areas, where in- j cendiarism 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 a persistent attempt of Congress to take a procession through a 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 civic police, but as the situation seemed quiet, the troops were allowed to return to their barracks. POLICE FORCED TO FIRE 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 they had to lire before the crowd dispersed. The situation was quickly brought under control, but precautionary measures have had to be taken to prevent a recrudescence of the disorder. On the night of May 26 a clash occurred between the police and Muhammadam troops in Bombay as a result of an incident in which a sergeant of police and the Muhammadan were concerned. The police had to fire and the situation during the night 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 the 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 the congress volunteers have become more forcible. Considerable strain has been placed on the police in carrying out arrests and dispersing hostile crowds, but they have successfully prevented the volunteers attaining their objective.