|
Part 11
INTERNAL SITUATION:
23. Reference has already been made to the disturbances organised by Congress in August and their effect (see paragraph 13). Internal trouble of a different kind necessitated the use of troops and the declaration of martial law in part of Sind north of Hyderabad. A fanatical sect of Moslems known as the Hurs had long terrorised a considerable district through which the main line from the port of Karachi runs. On the 16th May, 1942, a gang of Hurs derailed the mail train from Karachi and then attacked it. It was impossible to tolerate such dangerous lawlessness on one of the principal lines of communication in India. Since the police and civil authorities were unable to deal with the situation, a military force was sent and martial law declared. Major-General R. Richardson, M.C.. was appointed Military Administrator. Under his able direction the situation soon improved, but so deep-seated was the terrorism of the Hurs, and so difficult the country, which contains large areas of marsh and of desert, that the troops were still employed at the end of the year.
A company of a Parachute battalion was employed for some time in operations to round up bands of Hurs, probably the first use of parachutists in civil disturbances. Recruiting was not affected by any internal trouble, and some 60,000 recruits continued to be enlisted each month.
24. In July a small expedition to Datta Khel in Waziristan became necessary to deal with tribal disturbances inspired by the notorious Fakir of Ipi. The operations were short and successful. On the whole the situation on the N.W. Frontier during 1942 was noticeably stable.
|
