HYDERABAD: The Hur movement of 1941 was a much more serious affair than any of the previous Hur [uprisings], said Mr. H.T. Lambrick, Special Commissioner, Hur area, in an interview with the Associated Press. Mr. Lambrick said that during the present Hur movement parties of up to 70-strong had been [involved] in outrages on various occasions. The derailment and looting of the Lahore Mail in 1942 was carried out by a gang of 20 Hurs and another gang of 75 Hurs had attempted to derail the Bombay Mail.

Within the last six months, many of the leading Hur outlaws had been shot in encounters with the armed forces. The last of these, Allahdino Hingoro, was shot dead at Sanghar five days ago. Some persons had been harbouring the outlaws not in all cases out of love for them but due to fear.

The main defiance of authority came from the Hurs hiding in the vicinity of the Makhi lake which is in the heart of the Hur tract. Some dangerous Hurs are still at large including Haji Khaskheli, brother of the notorious Mattu Khaskheli. The head of the Hurs at present was, apparently, Rahim Hingoro and regular “commands” were issued under his seal. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014