Calcutta, August 13, 1947: Mahatma Gandhi had to abandon his usual evening prayer today. A hostile demonstration was staged by a mob of about a thousand strong in front of his new residence in Beliaghata where he shifted this afternoon from Sodepur.

Open fights were witnessed at the gate between the mob elements and people who wanted to enter the premises for darshan of the Mahatma. None was allowed to enter. The mob went on shouting, “Suhrawardy go back”, “Gandhi go back” and demanded that Mahatma Gandhi should go and settle down in some area from where the Hindus had evacuated. There have been many cases of bomb throwing, use of firearms by private individuals, arson, looting and clashes between rival groups. It has mixed population of Hindus and Muslims.

No incidents have been reported from the Beliaghata area up to 3 pm today. Yesterday there was a case of arson and looting in the area and a bomb explosion. A short while after Mahatma Gandhi had arrived at his new residence, shouts of “Suhrawardy go back” were heard at the gate. The crowd had stopped the car by which Mr H.S. Suhrawardy, chief minister of Bengal, came. With the help of the police, the car entered the compound and Mr Suhrawardy quietly came near the room where Mahatma Gandhi had already settled down and was attending to his correspondence. Unlacing the shoes which he left outside, Mr Suhrawardy entered Mahatma’s room. Mahatma Gandhi greeted him with laughter, “What are those boys shouting for outside?” ...

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