RIOTING IN INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1942, Page 4

RIOTING IN INDIA

FIFTY-THREE DEATHS

THUS FAR

POLICE AGAIN FIRE ON MOBS IN 3OMBAY. I SOME DISORDERS IN OTHER (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON. August 12. British armoured cars and troop lorries are now patrolling the streets cf Bombay and Delhi. In these and other cities riots, led by Congress supporters, have so far caused 53 deaths. The police opened fire several times on mobs in Bombay today. In one instance firing occurred when a crowd at Nasik attempted to snatch arms from policeman escorting arrested persons. The rioters stabbed several constables and freed one prisoner. . . The police also fired on rioters in old Delhi, Moradabad, Karachi. Cawnpore, Madras, Bassein and Ahmadabad. In Madras the police fired in self-defence when a mob pelted them with stones. Two post offices were looted at Cawnpore. The authorities in Cawnpore and Lucknow have decreed the death penalty for rioting. Six self-governing civic bodies in Nagpur have been suspended on the ground that they were supporting the Congress Party. OUTLOOK CLEARING SITUATION WELL IN HAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.)) RUGBY, August 12. Further authoritative information received in London tonight indicates that, while reports irom the provinces are not complete, the initial measures taken have not had serious results. Only in Delhi, Bombay and the United Provinces have any serious clashes with the authorities been reported, and even there the trouble has been localised in a few centres like Bombay, Ahmadabad, Poona, Delhi, Lucknow and Cawnpore. There was no trouble in many centres where disturbances were expected. Even in Bombay, such centres of potential disorder as Bardoli and Sholapur are reported quiet. It will be some time before the situation can be judged definitely, but the official information from Delhi tonight is that wherever disturbances have occurred the situation is well in hand. There is no indication of any widespread mass movement, and the countryside is not affected. There has been virtually no interference with the war effort. In Calcutta there have been no repercussions to the arrests of the Congress Party leaders. The few shops in that city which closed have reopened. The reported closing of some jute mills has no political significance and is attributable to trade factors. No reports of disturbances come from outlying districts. In Bengal disturbances are confined to a few cities, such as Bombay and Ahmadabad, which are Congress strongholds and contain many hooligans, elements easily provoked, and hot-headed students.