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HINDU - SCHEDULED CASTES CLASHES IN BOMBAY
June 1, 1946
The situation in the Worli area where there have been frequent clashes between the Scheduled Caste members and Caste Hindus during the last four days, resulting so far in five killed and nearly seventy injured, is quiet this morning, strong police parties have been stationed all over the locality and mobile armed police are constantly patrolling the affected area. There were only three stray cases of assaults upto midday today.
Mr. B.G. Kher, Prime Minister of Bombay, is meeting Dr. Ambedkar, Leader of the Scheduled Castes this evening with a view to discussing with him how best to bring about normal conditions in the Worli area.
The last four days disturbances have affected the working of certain mills because many of the operatives abstained from attending work for fear of being stoned. Last night four mills had to give up night shift and this morning excepting one mill all the other mills worked with depleted staff.
State of Emergency proclaimed
A ‘State of emergency’ has been proclaimed by the Government of Bombay in the disturbed labour areas in Worli and Delisle Road where there have been clashes between Caste Hindu workers and Scheduled Class workers.
This gives wide powers to the police in handling the situation, particularly in the matter of rounding up of bad characters and externing them from the city limits.
One more person who had been admitted to hospital yesterday with a stab wound died today, thus bringing the total killed to 6.
Dr. Ambedkar Deplores Development
The Government of Bombay in the Home Department has decided on the immediate measures to put down law lessness in the Worli Chawls and Delisle Road with a stern hand.