Indian Speedsters

Fijian Police

Arrest

Suva, Dec. 1

A FIJIAN, Constable Kaveni Kuru, came upon a noisy Indian party in a parked taxi, at 2.35 a.m. on November 19, and placed a young Indian woman under arrest.

Three Indian men actively resisted the constable. Then one of them, Uday Deo, jumped into the taxi and started off.

Constable Keveni sprang onto the running board, and hung on.

The taxi raced at an incredible speed through central Suva to Nasese, Laucala Bay and Tamavua—ll miles—and the plucky constable, on the running board had several narrow escapes. The Indians tried to get rid of him —they even threatened him (at 50 mph!) with the cranking handle.

As the taxi raced through town, the constable saw his officer, Sergeant Malilili, and yelled for help. The sergeant, in another taxi, pursued the malefactors all the way to Tamavua. There, Uday Deo slowed down, and the police arrested the lot.

The magistrate, Mr. J. G. Horsfall, sen taced Uday Deo to a year’s hard labour and fined him heavily for other offences; the other two Indians were sent to gaol for six months; and the woman was fined for drunkenness.

The magistrate warmly commended the police for their conduct in the case.

Inspector D. T. Saint, told the court that Uday Deo was by far the worst of the offenders. His conduct illustrated the contempt for the law and order shown by “a certain section of the com munity.”

Mr. A. I. N. Deoki, for the defence, demanded to know to which section of the community the inspector referred.

“The hooligan element”, replied In spector Saint.

Mr. Deoki gave notice of appeal against the sentences.