OUTRAGE IN LONDON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1940, Page 7

OUTRAGE IN LONDON

SHOTS FIRED BY INDIAN GUNMAN SIR M. O’DWYER KILLED. AMRITSAR AFFAIR RECALLED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON. March 13. At a meeting of the East India Association, an Indian gunman shot dead Sir Michael O'Dwyer and wounded Lord Zetland (Secretary of State for India), SirLouis Dane and Lord Lamington, all slightly. The shooting occurred at the end of a meeting in the Caxton Hall. The gunman fired four shots in rapid succession. Sir M. O’Dwyer fell to the floor with a wound in his chest. Two doctors in the audience rushed to his assistance but death was instantaneous. Sir Louis Dane’s arm was broken. Lord Lamington was also wounded in an arm. Doctors found a bullet in Lord Zetland’s clothes. The bullet just grazed him. After the shooting, the gunman, clasping his gun, shouted: “Make way” and dashed down the aisle towards the door. After a momentary stampede, two men jumped on the gunman. The police placed a cordon round the building and detained the audience of 150 for 21 hours, when they were allowed to go, after making statements. The Amritsar affair occurred during Sir M. O’Dwyer’s term as LieutenantGovernor of the Punjab.

Serious rioting took place in Amritsar on April 10 and 11, 1919. following on the removal of two native agitators. Mobs burned banks. Government buildings and railway premises. On April 11. troops dispersed a meeting of 5.000 natives, of whom from 400 to 500 were killed and about 1,500 wounded. A public inquiry was held end the evidence aroused grave concern in Britain.