STREET SCENES IN MUZZAFARNAGAR; POLICE ON DUTY; STUDENTS ARRESTED AND PUT INTO POLICE TRUCKS; HELICOPTER CARRYING MRS GANDHI ARRIVES; MRS GANDHI DRIVES PAST CROWDS; STEEL-HELMETED AND MASKED POLICE STAND-BY; MRS GANDHI ADDRESSES CROWD. (NATSOF)




Initials HT/V/MR/PC



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Background: PROMPT POLICE ACTION IN MUZZAFARNAGAR, 73 MILES TO THE WEST OF NEW DELHI, YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) AVERTED A THREATENED MAJOR STUDENT RIOT AS THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, MRS INDIRA GANDHI, VISITED THE TOWN TO ADDRESS A GATHERING OF THE INDIAN CONGRESS PARTY.

STEEL-HELMETED POLICE CARRYING BATONS ARRESTED THE STUDENTS AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, MANY OF WHOM HAD TRAVELLED SPECIALLY FROM DELHI TO MUZZAFARNAGAR. POLICE REPORTED THAT 300 HAD BEEN ARRESTED, BUT ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STUDENTS OVER FOUR TIMES THAT NUMBER WERE ARRESTED.

POLICE ALSO KEPT A STRICT WATCH ON ALL THOSE ATTENDING THE OUTDOOR MEETING OF THE CONGRESS POLITICAL PARTY. MRS GANDHI ARRIVED IN THE TOWN BY HELICOPTER, AND THEN DROVE TO THE ARENA WHERE SHE TOLD HER AUDIENCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE STUDENT UNREST.

DURING THE PAST THREE WEEKS THERE HAS BEEN A RUSH OF FIERCE STUDENT RIOTS, IN WHICH SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND HUNDRED INJURED. THE STUDENTS ARE PROTESTING AGAINST EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND OF POLICE BRUTALITY.