What I saw in Bihar (or Horrors of Nehru Raj)

By

Balshastri Hardas of Nagpur

Introduction

A brief chronology

1945

May

War in Europe ended with defeat of Germany.

June

Viceroy Lord Wavell called for a Conference of Indian leaders to discuss formation of an interim Government at Centre. It was held in Simla on from 25 June onwards. Hindu Maha Sabha was excluded. Jinnah insisted that he should have the exclusive right to nominate Muslim members of the Interim Government.

July

General elections were held in Britain, resulting in a landslide victory for the Labour Party. Attlee took over as Prime Minister from Churchill on 10th.

September

On the 2nd, Japan surrendered.

December 1945/ January 1946

Elections were held in all the Provinces of India. Congress Party won by a landslide in all the HINDU constituencies, but failed to get a single seat in Muslim constituencies. Congress formed governments in Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Orissa, U.P, C.P and Berar. Muslim League formed governments in Bengal and Sind but did not get a majority in Punjab where a coalition government was formed.

1946

March

Cabinet Mission arrived in India from Britain. Its proposal was accepted by the Congress and Muslim League.

June

29^th - Members of caretaker Government are announced. Cabinet mission leaves India.

July

29th - Council of the Muslim League at a meeting in Bombay resolved to withdraw its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission's proposals set forth in the statement of 16 May in view of Nehru’s statement of 10^th July and to resort to "Direct Action" to achieve Pakistan.

31^st Wavell meets Nehru who was rather shaken by Muslim League resolution

August

16^th - As a result of ‘Direct Action’ of Muslim League, Great Calcutta killings of Hindus took place lasting for four days, 5,000 Hindus were killed, 15,000 injured. On the 18^th even Sarat Chandra Bose leader of Bengal Congress (and brother of Subhash Chandra Bose) rang Wavell and protested that during riots police in Calcutta were favouring Muslims against Hindus.

September

2 - Nehru takes office as Vice President of the Viceroy's Executive Council and member for External Affairs. Patel becomes Minister for Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting.

October

Between 10th and 17^th Muslims killed Hindus in Chittagong and Noakhali (now in Bangladesh) on a massive scale. Some 150,000 Hindu men, women and children were killed. A few survivors of the massacre reached Calcutta on 20^th and 25^th was observed as Noakhali day.

Muslims, of course, played down this massacre, and the Congress led Provincial Governments suppressed the truth from Hindus by using their power. As an example, on 26 June, Bombay Government stopped advertisements to Agrani (Nathuram Godse's newspaper) by a single order and transferred them to Lokashakti a rival daily. Few days later, Bombay Government forfeited 6,000 Rupees security of Agrani and ordered the paper to close down Nathuram started a new paper, Hindu Rashtra next day. But again he was ordered to pay 5,000 Rupees security.

It had been portrayed at that time that as a result of the Noakhali massacre, Hindus of Bihar sought revenge on Muslim in their province. This is a lie. Just like Bengal, Muslims wanted to massacre Hindus in Bihar too. As usual, Hindus did not suspect any danger from Muslims and were totally un-prepared. Muslims tried their tricks, but Bihari Hindus soon got organised and taught Muslims a lesson. Immediately Muslims started shouting that they were in danger!! And their Guardian Angels, Gandhi and Nehru, rushed to their help. Gandhi described Bihari Hindus as savages and threatened to fast unto death. Nehru threatened to bomb Bihari Hindus. He posted Muslim units of Indian Army and gave them free rein to shoot to kill, loot, burn houses and properties of Hindus. This is the story of eye-witnesses of those tragic days.

A book was published in 1946 describing horrors of Nehru’s policy. Of course, it was suppressed by the Congress Party. Dr Nene of Badoda managed to get a photocopy for me. I have scanned it and converted the text in WORD form.

Please note that the language is 60 years old and those who wrote were not graduates. Some words may not make sense and in some places the print was smudged. Despite these defects, the document is worth studying.

Roots of present day problems are in our History. We must never forget our History.

If you want to do further research, please visit the British Library in London where you will find Secret Files kept by British Administrators of those days. Also Times (of London) is ‘online’ and the library also holds microfilms of Indian newspapers.

If you need further information, please contact me.

V S Godbole

Some - explanations

Prime Minister – Under the Government of India Act 1935, India was treated as a Federation like Canada. Therefore, Chief Ministers of various provinces were called Prime Ministers. Thus we had Mr Sinha, Prime Minister of Bihar.

Each Province had its own legislature with two chambers. The upper chamber was called Legislative Council, whose members were selected from specific groups, e.g. graduates, businessmen.

The lower chamber was called Legislative Assembly. Its members were elected by general elections. They were called M L A s But please remember that only 10% of the population had the vote.

--------

Some terms

B P C C - Bihar Pradesh (Province) Congress Committee

M.L.A – member of Legislative Assembly

A P I – Associated Press of India (a news agency)

S I – Sub Inspector of Police

D S P – District Superintendent of Police

S D O – Sub divisional officer

P S - Police station / Post Script

Thana – a Police station.

Khakasar – Private army of the Muslim League

Section 93 – of the Government of India Act, 1935. It was envisaged that popular governments would be formed in the Provinces. But in case stable governments could not be formed or if they could not maintain Law and Order, the Governors had the powers to take over administration under Section 93

Section 144 – of the Indian Penal Code.

A District Magistrate could prohibit public meetings for maintaining Law and order. But these are only emergency powers.

WHAT I SAW

IN

BIHAR

*

by

BALSHASTHI HARDAS

PRESIDENT

HINDU SANGHATANIST PARTY,

NAGPUR.

*

Price Rs 1/8/-

Published by:

Rashtradharma Prasarak Granthamala

Nagpur.

Printed by:

P V Belwalkar

At Harihareshwar Press

Mahal

Nagpur

OPINION

The Hindu public must feel obliged to Sahityacharya Balshastri Hardas for having published at an opportune time his book, namely, " What l saw in Bihar. '' Therein he gives a pen-picture of the happenings that took place in Bihar, wherefrom every impartial reader will be convinced that the Bihar Hindus were more sinned against than the sinners themselves, and had had to suffer terribly and even now are required so to suffer at the hands of their own co-religionists in the name of the so-called truth and the protection of the minority Muslim community. I request every Hindu to read the Book through and through and draw therefrom the right Iessons for his guidance and action.

L. B. Bhopatkar,

President,

All India Hindu Mahasabha.

FOREWORD

(1) India is passing through very critical times in her chequered history. The

times are most critical for the Hindus, which are the backbone of the country.

The political situation in the country is rapidly getting worse and worse since the notorious Simla Conference in July 1945, and each succeeding step which the British have taken thereafter and the Congress reaction to it, in spite of its appeasement policy, has resulted in increased bitterness of the Muslim League against the Hindus. Hindus were threatened with massacres like the Historical ones by Chengiskhan and others. The Muslim League propaganda machine was working at a high pitch to disseminate hatred against the Hindus.

(2) Hindus were all this time quiet and peaceful. Neither the British nor the

Congress raised their little finger to stop this vile and vitriolic propaganda of the Muslim League. Finally the Muslim League passed their notorious ‘direct action’ resolution (August 1946) but the British Government, which arrested all Congress leaders in (August) 1942, immediately after the Congress passed its direct action (Quit India) resolution and declared the Congress illegal, did not take any notice of the Muslim League resolution apparently because it is the proverbial, favourite wife. Thus encouraged the Muslim League Government of Bengal, declared a holiday on the 16th August 1946 to celebrate the direct action day which proved to be a signal of the great Calcutta killing and the countrywide horrors of Jehad to establish Pakistan by sword and to liquidate the Hindus wherever it was possible to do so. Witness : Noakhali, Rawalpindi etc.

The Congress formed the Interim Government with the minorities and two

non-league Muslims keeping the Muslim League seats vacant against their future entry any time (September 1946). It was naturally expected by every man with reason and conscience that if and when the Muslim League decided to enter the Interim Government they would be asked to withdraw their ‘direct action’ resolution before they entered.

But this never happened. Whether the Muslim League bamboozled Lord Wavell the then Viceroy or whether he duped the Congress we are not concerned. The fact remains that the Muslim League were allowed to enter the Government with their ‘direct action’ resolution flourishing with full force against the Hindus. They were in the happy position of hunting with the hound and running with the hare and they took lull advantage of it and the Congress members of the Interim Government were looking on supinely like boobies or old cronies and their high priest was administering dose after dose of his Ahimsa to the point of nausea, to the down trodden Hindus and asking them not to resist or retaliate but to die peacefully. The enemies of Hindus want nothing better. This is exactly what they want to facilitate their task of extirpating the Hindus wherever they can do so.

By all accounts the Hindu is a tolerant race. Even Mahatma Gandhi has said once that the average Hindu was a coward and the average Muslim was a bully. In spite of this the Hindu is calumniated and the Muslim Leaguers lay great emphasis on the fear of Hindu domination because it pays them to do so and use it as a plank for propaganda in favour of Pakistan. The recent happenings in Bihar are pointed out by the Muslims to justify their fear and the Mahatma’s threat to the Hindus of Bihar of fast unto death gives an added emphasis to it. It is therefore necessary that a true and authentic picture of the Bihar happenings should come before the public to remove doubts and misconceptions which arise in the public mind from lack of information about true facts due to suppression of news by the Congress Ministries to maintain peace and order which is impossible to do unless the political problem is solved. It is surprising that the Congress administration is blatantly partial and unjust to the Hindus who have placed it into the saddle. To quote only a few examples the Bihar Ministry recently confiscated the pictures of Rana Pratap and Shivaji Maharaj. Has that ministry got the pedigree of Aurangzeb? The Bombay Ministry demanded the security of 6,000 Rs from the Maratha an English weekly of Poona founded by the Late Lokamanya Tilak of hallowed memory for publishing the information about Bihar authenticated by eminent persons like Dr Munje and Kumar Ganganand Singh. This is the Congress pattern of liberty of thought and expression. It is surprising that the Congress Ministries are using special legislation to cover their inefficiency although they had promised in their election manifesto not to use it but to get it repealed. Apparently for the Congress, honesty is not the best policy. Readers of this booklet will see how necessary it is in public interest that true facts should see the light of the day. The perusal of the booklet will show that even in Bihar although the Muslims suffered more, they were the aggressors as usual and the trouble started in persuance of the ‘direct action’.

Mr. Balshastry Hardas a young and energetic Hindu worker of Nagpur had

personally gone to Bihar to see things for himself and to get authentic information which is contained in this booklet. I commend his efforts to the public. It is evident that for the preservation of their religion race and culture the Hindus must unite and organize, themselves as Hindus to meet the menace of this Jehad for Pakistan, whose boundary is now approaching the Jumna river; otherwise the Hindu is a doomed race.

Dr. N. B. Khare,

Prime Minister,

ALWAR State

INDEX

No	Title	Author	pages
1	What I saw in Bihar	Balshastri Hardas	9 –16
2	Statements	Dr B S Moonje and Kumar Ganganand Sinha	17 –20
3	What happened in Monghyr?	Secretary, Town Hindu Sabha, Monghyr	21 – 26
4	What happened in Bihar Shareef Sub-division?	The poor Hindus of Bihar Shareef Sub-division	27 – 31
5	What happened in Jahanabad	Secretary Jahanbad Hindu Sabha	32 – 35
6	Kharagpur Incidents	P N Sinha Vice President Hindu Mahasabha Haveli Kharagpur	36 – 38
7	Bhagalpur and Tarapur	Secretary Thana Hindu Sabha Sheikapura, Monghyr	39 –41
8	What happened at Sheikhpura?	Secretary Thana Hindu Sabha Sheikapura	42 – 44
9	Anti-Hindu Policy of the Congress Government	Secretary Town Hindu Sabha, Patna	45—46
10	An important document	Town Hindu Sabha Barbigha	47 – 48
11	Letters to Secretary B.P.C.C	Nandkishan Agrawal	49 – 50
12	A suggestion to Pandit Nehru	A peace loving Biharee.	51- 52
13	Letter to P.M of Bihar	Dr B S Munje	53 –55
14	Mr Huq’s view	A P I	56
15	Proceedings in Central Legislative Assembly	A P I	57- 61
16	Reported Bihar Action : Riot Area - Survey	A.P.I	62

What I saw in Bihar

[A Brief report of the recent happenings in Bihar prepared by Sahityacharya Balshastri Hardas, President of All India Hindusanghatanist Party and forwarded to the President of .All India Hindu Sabha]

How we went to Bihar

While Dharmaveer Dr Moonje was lying in bed by an attack of asthama he

received an urgent telegram on 10 November 1946 from Dr S P Mookerjee and Mr N C Chaterjee meaning "Nehru's visit disastrous for Hindus and responsible for mass shooting in Bihar. You should go to their rescue". This was more than what the doctor's patience or illness could make him forbear. It has been his life-mission to offer his helping services wherever and whenever Hindus are in danger. He defied his illness and at once resolved to start. I was asked to accompany which I could not but obey.

In the Congress-hired press (that is almost all the newspapers) it was being

propagated regularly that Hindus of Bihar had committed terrible atrocities on Muslims as a revenge of East Bengal tragedy. Mr Gandhi had already sent his usual threat of fasting, to the Bihari Hindus as punishment for their black deeds. Nehru said "The Bihari Hindus have brought defame and shame to the glorious name of their religion & culture." The Muslim press was pouring out poisonous and fiery propaganda against the Hindus and was indirectly being supported even by the Hindu Congress press. As against this there was news from Hindu Sabha that following the roaring and rash threats of Mr. Nehru, there was actual bombing and indiscriminate firing on Hindu masses, by Muslim Military. To find out the truth and give necessary relief to the Hindus we visited Bihar.

Hindus are being oppressed in Bihar

On the 12th November1946 morning, we started for Calcutta by mail (train). On the 13^th, on the Calcutta station, Mr N C Chatterjee, Mr. Dewendra Mookerjee, Ex-Mayor of Calcutta and Major Bardhan came to see Dr Moonje. The two last named gentlemen had recently visited Bihar. What we heard from them was merely shocking and quite contradictory to the current version of the Congressite press. The same evening we started for Patna by the Express train, As soon as the train crossed the border of Bihar, on every station thousands of Hindus gathered to hail Dr. Moonje. They cried in agony 'Oh Doctor Saheb, we are cruelly oppressed by these Congress Ministers, will you rescue us Sir’? It was a pitiable scene, which shook the ever strong-minded Doctor. It was strange and shameful that Hindu Congress governed Bihar was facing a tragedy of Hindu democratic rulers oppressing Hindu masses. In Bihar of Rajendra Babu the grand votary of nonviolence and peace thousands of poor Hindus were shot down, tortured, kicked, dishonoured, ravished and being looted by Muslim soldiers under the very nose and orders of the Congress Ministry. One can easily understand the situation if Hindus are oppressed in Muslim Provinces like Sind and Bengal. But what horror to think of the same fate for ever-suffering Hindus in Bihar where only the favour of Hindus had raised the Congress from the prison cell to the throne. Dr Moonje gave expressions to these thoughts in a very pathetic speech of his at a station, thousands of Hindus were moved by it. He further said, “ If really the matters have come to this, evil day for the Congress has dawned. I see that Hindus are already a downtrodden, forsaken and betrayed race.”

Who started the rioting in Bihar?

At Patna we met Dr S P Muckerjee. After some talk with him, it was settled that Dr Moonje should visit every village in the affected area and should prepare a detailed report. Dr Moonje readily consented. Dr Mookerjee had taken a birds eye view of the whole affected area from air but as it was insufficient to give a correct idea of the actual situation, we resolved to start by motors, lorries, or any available means. We visited Hilsa, Atasaria, E Khangar sarai, Telhara, Islampur, Khider sarai, Bankipur, Masodi, Nagar Nawsa, Sultanganj. Bhagalpur, Gaya, Mongheer, Tarapur, Ganpur, Nawada, Jahahabad, Punpun, Banka, Dumka. Akbar Nagar; Jamalpur, Phulka, Banyarpur, Kharagpur, Muzaffar Ganj. Assarganj, Nayagaon, Phool Oli, Sheikhpura, Begumsarai and so many other places.

We took down reports and statements from respective tables from these places. From all such statements, reports, confessions of the Military authorities who did actual firing work, evidence procured in courts, oral and written applications of Hindu victims, actual photos of innocent people, who had been shot down; some remnant parts of machine gun and Bren gun bullets, we now are in a position to sum up the story of Bihar riots and give our judgment on it. Such a short report was already prepared by Dr. Moonje and handed over to Mr. Shrikrishna Sinha, Bihar Premier. I personally mean to publish an exhaustive report in a book-form as soon as possible. This report is being given to the public specially to enable them to understand the real situation of Bihar, the grave dangers present and coming in near future.

Moreover to remove all misunderstanding and misapprehensions about the nature of the Hindu resistance and sufferings in Bihar created by the Muslim press, Congress hired press and unfortunately by leaders like Mr Jawaharlal Nehru. I am ashamed to acknowledge that eminent Congress Hindu leaders are purposely trying to blackmail Hindus of Bihar, by their false propaganda to justify their own foolish atrocities, and legalize their irresponsible conduct. Without fear of contradiction, we can declare that Bihar riots were started by fanatic Mohammedans to attain political ends. The Muslim workers acted under direct orders from the President and other officials and wanted to repeat the Jehad of Calcutta and East Bengal. They wanted to spread a panic and communal terror in the heart of Hindus, with a view to use political coercion, even where they could not outnumber the Hindus.

Not a communal riot but a political conspiracy of the Muslim League

Throughout rural Bihar, League was making large scale preparations, most indigenously but openly. All Muslim officials, Muslim office bearers of local congress committees (Alas! there were many so called national Muslims in the honey-tongued double-edged traitors) all were busy and headlong in this conspiracy. The whole press propaganda alleging that Hindus had started the general rioting as a retaliation of East Bengal is nothing but a big lie. The League, with the secret help of government Muslim officials, distributed arms and ammunition throughout Muslim society. All legal and illegal means were adopted. Large stocks of daggers, spears, swords. explosives, incendiaries, kerosene and so many other things were acquired, distributed and stored. Thousands of Muslim goondas (thugs) were imported from other provinces.

We do not feel astonished how such a big dangerous conspiracy could be accomplished in a Hindu province, ruled by a so-called democratic party, the Congress. Congress Ministry by its inactivity, pro-Muslim policy, and in its eagerness to overdo a stage-show of Muslim protection, indirectly became a party to Muslim conspiracy and betrayed the public trust confided in it by Hindus of Bihar. The Ministers were all the while keen and busy wit their party work. They relied on the invocation of Mr Gandhi and God. They perhaps thought they were elected to fight against the British only. What had they to do with this Muslim aggression? It was after all a communal question. In spite of being in office, they had to be neutral and inactive.

The moment the Muslims thought their preparations were complete and it was time to strike, they easily found some pleas to hit the spark. Not even a single riot began except with a gun shot from a Muslim goonda (thug).

The major background causes of Bihar riots

1. The fiery propaganda of Muslim League Direct Action. The irresponsible speeches of Muslim leaders like Mr Gazanfar Ali. Mr Liyaquat Ali Khan and Mr Jinnah.

2. The heavy losses of Biharis in Calcutta riots (16 August 1946), the criminally inactive policy of Congress Central Government.

3. It is heard the emigrants being mainly Bengali Muslims and brought educated Hindu girls from Bengal.

4. On Bakar Id occasion the Muslims committed cow slaughter publicly

and challenged the religious and manly sentiments of Hindus.

5. There was news that some Muslims had taken out procession of Brahmin and Mahar victims, who were then sacrificed before a mosque.

6. Rapes on Hindu girls committed publicly, which is very common practice with Muslims. There was news of some incidents of unnatural intercourse with cows in public market and Hindus were given open challenge to protect their

mothers.

7. Last but not the least Muslims themselves started the riots by shooting the Hindus.

The Game was turned against them

In spite of all such huge preparations the Muslims had to repent for their follies; Bhumipar Brahmins and Gops of Bihar, renowned for their customary bravery and hard fighting soon retaliated and the Muslims had to taste the bitter fruits of their own aggression. Hindus; led counter attack so vehemently and decidedly that Muslims gave way, fell down and rolled before them. They were defeated, uprooted, and exterminated. The Muslims gathered in mosques and brought to bay, began firing desperately. Hundreds of Hindu Martyrs exhausted their ammunition by paying full cost of their lives and then Hindus punished the Muslims. Mr Vallabhbhai Patel only recently said, “Sword shall be answered with sword.” But mere words however might there be, could not save the honour of congress in tins land. The Bihari Hindus acted and gave a honourable fight to this roaring.

Busybody Nehru poking his nose

As soon as the tables were turned against them, the Muslims began to cry for

Help. The congress ever eager to flatter booz the Muslims hastened to succumb. Mr Nehru in his pride of so-called premiership who till now contented himself with speaking crocodile tears, at once rushed on the stage of Bihar. Mr Gandhi threatened the Bihari Hindus that he would fast unto death for their sins. Mr Nehru warned that he would resort to military methods,

bombs. machine-gun them if they did not slop at once. He now, feeling the prick of his conscience and somewhat ashamed of his rashness, is making a fuss that he did not utter any such threat in Bihar. He says, “ Such were not my words. If at all they were, such was not my meaning ". But unfortunately for him there are thousands of respectable people who were actually present at the time of Nehru's public speeches and are prepared to corroborate the truth.

The childish sport of Mr Nehru

Mr. Nehru did not contend himself with mere threats; he executed them. He behaved childishly. He treated the Bihari Hindus peevishly. He did not care to give audience to the legitimate complaints of Hindus. “I have come here only for Muslims and not for you." he warned the Hindus. In spite of this warning some Hindus tried to speak to him but they were thrashed personally by Mr. Nehru himself. Mr. Nehru seems to be very fond of wrestling and boxing with Hindus. Once he ran alter a Hindu questioner, who for fear of being kicked by such a great patriot and votary of non-violence Jumped into a river. Mr. Nehru rashly and childishly himself jumped after him and began to swim. On the bank, thousands of Hindus and police officers were looking at this ridiculous scene with anger and contempt. When after complete dismay Mr Nehru returned to Patna, the excited Hindu youngsters attacked Mr Nehru, took away his white cap, tore away his shirt and drove him out of the meeting. There also this modern Don Quixote tried to take off a pistol from the belt of a police officer and attack the mob.

Atrocities of the Military.

Mr. Nehru’s visit to Bihar proved very disastrous for the Hindus. Muslim military was called and posted. Affairs of establishing peace and order were handed over to them with complete despotic Marshal Powers. The congress ministry proved more murderous than the British regime. Mr. Nehru, Mr. Azad and the Congress press have been all the while trying to conceal the truth, but the whole weeping Bihar is giving proof of their treachery. We are being told that only 15 to 20 Hindus have been killed in Bihar firing. This is a shameless lie. Even the Bihar Govt had to confess loss of 300 lives. The evidence of Military authorities on the spot and responsible for the firing

clearly shows that the congress propaganda is nothing but. a terrible lie .In Meerut congress Mr Nehru the youth child of Mr Gandhi clamoured that there was no bombing in Bihar. In fact, no means were left unused by the Military to put down the Hindus. Big guns were used in Telhara. In Naganosa there was rash firing. Mr. Babu Jagatnarayan Lal, member of A. I. C. C. and famous leader of Bihar says, “there was excessive firing in Naganosa. The Military i.e. Madras Regiment soldiers looted the shops and houses of helpless Hindus. They broke through the houses and shot down women, children and old sickly persons in their beds. They even looted the Govt Post office. Post Master was wounded and a postman was shot dead." Here is a bitter pill of reply for Mr Nehru to swallow.

The Notorious Nagar Nosa

The true episode of Nagarnosa is as follows:—

The place lies in Patna district; there are 5000 houses of Hindus and 1200 of Muslims. Before the riots, thousands of Muslims from the surrounding villages poured into Nagarnosa. They stored sulphur, phosphorous, copper sulphate, kerosin, soda, potash and so many other explosives and incendiaries. The tension suddenly increased. Some responsible men called a joint meeting of Hindus and Muslims for establishing peace. Hindus requested the Muslims to send away the imported goondas (thugs). The Muslims refused and said, “If really you want peace, you should give us sheep for our Id. sacrifice, otherwise we will sacrifice a cow". Hindus having rejected this plan, the Muslims walked out of the meeting. Next day, on the 3rd November 1946, firing began from the premises of Amnabi. A merchant Mukund was wounded; his servant Nanhak Gop succumbed. Ramsaran Singh Dipusingh another merchant, a passer-by missed the shot. He raised an alarm, hearing which, merchant Matersava came out of his shop and was shot down in his gallery. His son attempting to save his father was wounded in his leg. Thus began the riot. Hindus were not cowards. They readily accepted the challenge. On the 4^th, the Hindus retaliated. Muslim aggression was completely crushed down in one day. On the fifth when it was all quiet on the front the Military came upon the scene. All soldiers were Muslims, including the Captain. They were accompanied by the congress secretary Aboo Bayas and Ali Hasan Yasin Miya; both directed the Military against the Hindus. Thus began the work of retribution against Hindus, under instructions of the Hindu congress, the soldiers had a free hand in everything. They looted the houses of Mukundsao and Matersa. They set fire to the cowshed of Umashankar Babu, houses of Tulsimohta and Dhupsa. Chammansao’s shop was looted. Fakirsa was asked to pay but having refused to pay more than two rupees was shot dead. A man named Punjabi was flogged. Alboobayas suggested that money should be extracted from a rich man like him. Punjabi saved his life by giving away all his money. Post Office was looted, post-master wounded and a postman named Itwari Dasa shot dead, while running away. Under the instructions of Aboobayas the soldiers kept on firing all around. In all, there were 900 rounds. Men were shot down not only in streets but also through houses, in beds and neither women nor children were spared. 250 Hindus were killed and numberless were wounded. Complitious were either looted or burnt down. The range of guns was one mile.

This story has been gathered from all the statements of affected people themselves. We have kept with us 23 remnant parts of those bullets. Tulsiprasad told us that even Mr Nehru was shown 93 bullets. What happened in Nagarnosa was repeated in other places also. We have given its detailed report in our larger work.

The Earth was covered with dead bodies.

It is difficult to ascertain the exact number of Hindu victims. One big Congress leader of Bihar said to us in a private talk “The Hindu of Magadha is ver