UNREST IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 5

UNREST IN INDIA.

THE ARREST OF GANDHI. ONLY MILD PROTESTS. Delhi, March 20. Gandhi’s sentence has created little excitement. Partial hartals have been declared in various localities, but there is no organised mourning. This is partially attributable to the fact that Gandhi is a Hindu and the Mohammedans remember that the Hindus did not demonstrate when the Ali Brothers, who are Mohammedans, were sentenced. Newspapers are surprised at the length of the sentence. Moderate native papers are still convinced that the arrest and sentence were a great mistake, which the Government will regret; The non-co-operation movement was dying of inanition after the suspension of disobedience, and now the treatment of Gandhi is. tantamount to martyrdom, giving a fresh impetus to the frankly seditious movement. From gaol Gandhi has issued a farewell message, enjoining his followers to preach and practise non-violence, while Mrs. Gandhi says that, though she is sorry her husband has been incarcerated, his release can be secured through strict attention to his behests and the programme for Swaraj.

' TROUBLE IN PESHAWAR. Delhi, March 21. In consequence of the intimidation and violence offered to Government servants and loyalists during the Royal visit and the subsequent hostility there have been many arrests in Peshawar i city with a view to checking the spread of lawlessness. As it z is impossible to protect Government servants in Peshawar City the post and telegraph offices have been closed. Sympathisers demonstrated during the arrests and stoned the police, who had recourse to frequent baton charges. It transpires that intimidation by agitators caused the closing of all shops for two days during the Royal visit and prevented numerous people seeing the festivities.

The agitators jeered and cursed the loyalists, destroyed their shops and tore down the decorations. There was widespread molestation, particularly of service pensioners. 1