Evening star., 1948-02-03
Mobs in India Attack
Two Groups Opposing
Gandhi Peace Appeals
BY the Assoeio,sd Press

NEW DELHI, Feb. 3.-Through-
out India, members of two mill
tant Hindu groups which Bit
terly opposed Mohandas K.
Gandhi's peace appeal S were
attacked today by mobs enraged
over the Hindu spiritual leaders
assassination.
The Indian press said large num-
bers of both Mahasabha and the
RSS we're being arrested by police
for questioning. Others were beaten
and stoned.
Mahasabha-iterally Great Or
ganization-is political body with
branches all over India. 1t was
formed in this century as reply to
the Moslem League. 1t seeks an
India run solely by Hindu laws with
no protection for Moslem rights at
the expense of Hindus.
RSS-Rastrlya Swayam Sevay-
sangh-is another militant group
with similar beliefs.
Both organizations are classed as
Rightist. Both have been assailed
as Fascist. Both maintain youth
organizations called volunteer"
which have been described as private
armies.
Private Armies Banned.
The New Delhi government OF
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,
in a pledge to maintain peace yes
| terday banned private armies and
organizations which preach violence
and communal hatred.
Police said Gandhi's accused assas-
sin was a member of Mahasabha.
He has been arraigned under the
name of Narayan Vinayak Gadse OF
Poona.
Nehru appealed to the people to
let the law take its course in the
investigation of Fridays assassina-
| ton.
The government has promised to
show mo mercy" to those fomenting
communal trouble-that Gandhi in
death might be accorded the har-
mony he failed to achieve in life.
Both Nehru and Home Minister
Sardar Vallabhai Petal said they
were doing all in their power to
bring Gandhis slayers to justice.
Despite the appeals and assur-
ances violence continued to spread.
News dispatches said 135 RSS
members and six Mahasabha fol-
lowers were arrested at Nagpur and
Cawnpore following rioting. The
Mahasabha leader in the United
Provinces area was reported ar
rested at Gorakhpur.
Troops have been alerted through
out the dominion to back up the
governments orders and quell law
lessness.
Gandhi Opposed Conspiracy.
Demands of the two organizations
for Hindu rule and their oratorical
attacks against Gandhi are causing
their current troubles.
Nehru indicated in an address
here yesterday that Gandhi was
slain because he stood in the way
of a conspiracy to impose Hindu
communal rule on India. He added
that the government is pledged to
defeat such a move.
A dispatch from Kerala said the
Manhasabha branch there had been
dissolved after hearing that
Gandhi's alleged assassin was one
of that organization ..
Elsewhere similar violence against
Hindu extremists continued.
Fires broke out in Baroda, All
medabad was placed under curfew.
In Lucknow police said persons who
distributed sweets to rejoice" over
the Mahatmas death had been
placed under arrest.
Anti-Mahasabha slogans were
shouted by groups marching toward
New Delhi.
In the capital the government
mobilized heavy military reinforce
ments in case of emergency.
Ashes to Be Scattered.
Gandhis ashes will be committed
to the sacred Hindu rivers at ALA
habad February IL, it was an
nounced.
Salem Chatterji, a member of
Gandhi's staff, said casting of the
stars had determined that date to
be the most propitious.
The ashes will be scattered on the
waters at the confluence of the
Ganges, Jumna and Saraswati
Rivers, the most sacred spot-to
Hinduism all India. Allahabad is
about $50 miles southeast of New
| Delhi.
Gandhi, cut down by an assassin's
bullets last Friday, was cremated be-
side the Jumna here the next day.