POLICE TAKING PART IN A DEMONSTRATION IN NEW DELHI ON SATURDAY; THE HOME MINISTER, MR. Y. B. CHAVAN, ADDRESSING THEM; RESERVISTS ARREST. POLICE DEMONSTRATORS; SCUFFLES AND ARRESTS; DEAD DEMONSTRATOR.




Initials RM/V/CR/OS



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Background: LEADERS OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS AND LEFTIST POLITICAL PARTIES TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED FOR A GENERAL STRIKE IN NEW DELHI TO SUPPORT DEMANDS BY POLICEMEN FOR MORE PAY, BETTER HOUSING, AND THE REINSTATEMENT OF SOME DISMISSED COLLEAGUES. ARMED TROOPS ARE GUARDING KEY POINT IN NEW DELHI, WHERE NEARLY 700 POLICEMEN AWAIT TRIAL IN PRISON ON CHARGES OF DEFYING A GOVERNMENT BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS.

THE 700 POLICEMEN WERE ARRESTED AFTER THEY STAGED A DEMONSTRATION YESTERDAY OUTSIDE THE NEW DELHI RESIDENCE OF THE HOME MINISTER, MR. YASHWANTRAO B. CHAVAN, WHO EMERGED TO ADDRESS THEM. THE GOVERNMENT RUSHED IN TROOPS AND POLICE RESERVISTS. ABOUT 1,000 POLICE RESERVISTS MADE THE ARRESTS WHILE 20 TRUCKLOADS OF TROOPS STOOD BY.

THOSE ARRESTED WHERE AMONG ABOUT 3,000 NEW DELHI POLICEMEN WHO HAD KEPT AN ALL-NIGHT AND SOMETIMES NOISY VIGIL OUTSIDE MR. CHAVAN'S HOME. THE ARRESTS WERE COMPLETED IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. ONE OF THOSE ARRESTED FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK HE WAS BEING TAKEN AWAY IN AND DIED. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TONIGHT THAT NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST ANY STRIKING POLICEMEN WHO REPORTED FOR DUTY BY TOMORROW.