The Qadian Diary — Page 69
Letters, Correspondence, and Articles 55 of serious action. A general search for arms has been instituted and even licensed weapons have been seized from people who are the least likely to misuse them. People of probity have been locked up under penal sections. Some of the refugees who had taken shelter in a building on the outskirts of the town were shot at for resisting, we are told, an assault on their women by the very minions of law and order. Marauders, with little respect for human life and women’s honour, have been freely robbing the refugees of their money and other belongings. We endorse the appeal of the Qadian community that immediate arrangements should be made for the evacuation of women and children from Qadian. The men have decided to remain there. The Government of East Punjab will be serving its own best interests by stopping its functionaries from harassing and intimidating a traditionally loyalist and constitutionally-minded section of the people who can be a valuable asset to that Government at a time when its own political supporters are flagrantly defying its authority. It has not condescended to answer a single charge out of the many charges brought against it by the people of Qadian. We hope that it will not only do so, but also endeavour to eliminate the grievances that have brought these charges about. Letter from Nazir, Amoor-i-Amma, Ahmadiyya Headquarters, Lahore to the Hon’ble Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Premier, Government of India, New Delhi. (Dated Lahore the 7th of October 1947) I have the honour to bring to your notice the following brief points about Qadian (District Gurdaspur), Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Community:—