Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-08-24
Punjab Still in Turmoil
As Gangs Wage Bitter
Campaign Of Attrition
BY the Askoeiatsd Pres,

NEW DELHI. India, Aug. 23.-
Conditions reminiscent of wartime
still prevailed today IN many areas
of the Punjab, divided between the
week-old dominionS of Pakistan and
India, where kill-crazy gangs from
rival religious communities waged
bitter campaign of attrition.
The objective appeared to be to
drive all Sikhs and Hindus from
Pakistan's West Punjab and all
Moslems from Hindu midas East
Punjab. Already Lahore has been
emptied of half its 100000 popula-
tion-the HinduS and Sikhs-and
Amritsar has got rid OF half its
100000 population-the Moslems.
Stranded in Delhi, by the warfare
are passengers for more than 8
dozen special trains scheduled to
carry officials and government
servants to karachf, Pakistan CAPT.
tai. They have been held up since
the derailment of another special
between Amritsar and Lahore Au-
gust IA.
Heavy Guard Planned.
One Pakistan special is due to
leave soon, but its departure time
is being kept secret. When it leaves,
one official said it will be preceded
by pilot engine with a carload
of soldiers, and other attachments
of troops armed with automatic
weapons will be on either end of
the train. If it gets through, others
will follow.
Although the strength Of the Pun
jab boundary force has been kept
secret. it was reliably reported here
that seven brigades totaling $4,000
men were endeavoring to restore
peace to the violenc4racked gran
airy Of India" ~
The Punjab is still a virtual no
mans land, where the wrong head
piece may mean death to the wearer.
The PakiStan cabinet. which has
again pledged restoration of order,
also has problem on its hands in
Quota, capital of Baluchistan and
part of the new MoSlem dominion
where so persons were killed and at
4Sa'o 90 G&l Cd w AL q lON
between Pathans and MoslemS over
whether to hoist the Pathan flag on
a mosque.
Several Places Burned.
Several places, including cinemas,
were burned, and rail traffic between
Karachi and Quetta was halted
after the tracks had been tempered
with. However, the Pakistan gov
eminent said today the situation
was under control.
At Jullundur, in the Indian do
minion part of Punjab, where 1900
persons are reported to have been
slain in 19 days during attacks by
Sikhs on Moslem villages. the mill
tarily minded Sikhs were reported
to have organized their raiding
bands to high degree.
Descriptions of the attacks indi-
cate that the raiders are organized
into three distinct sections. Cen
orally in the dead of night comes
the first section. armed with every
thing from light machine guns to
ancient muzzle- leaders, to stam-
pede the villagers by gunfre. Next
come the killers section. armed with
spears, broadaxes, swords, clubs
and gunsf Finally come the looters
and arSonists.
Assemblies Draft Constitutions.
The two constituent assemblies
went ahead with the work of draft
ing constitutions for the two do
minions. The government of India.
whose constituent assembly al
ready has abolished untoucha bility,
announced another effort was be-
ing made to break down divisions
between religious communities.
The announcement said all COM
petitive government posts now will