The direct action program was deliberately kept vague. Jinnah said that he was not going to discuss policies. Liaquat Ali described direct action as action against the law which was a widespread indication of resorting to violence. The purpose of this call was not peaceful. Life had to be sacrificed in this. The Muslim League National Guard, formed for ex-servicemen, was at the forefront of direct action.
On August 5, 1946, the editor of Morning News wrote - 'Muslims do not believe in the language of non-violence. This newspaper quoted a Muslim leader Nizamuddin's statement on 11 August 1946 - 'We can create troubles in a hundred ways. Especially because we are not obliged to resort to non-violence. The Muslims of Bengal understand very well the meaning of direct action. So we don't need to show them any way.'
The Muslim League National Guards were reorganized by recruiting troops on the eve of direct action. Salar-i-Ala and other provincial Salars were appointed. Before direct action, a strong and powerful group of the Balochistan Muslim National Guard was sent to Bihar for several nobles to protect the Muslims in Bihar. In fact, his appointment in Bihar was a sham, in fact he was to be rioted in the Calcutta riots.
According to the report of the Calcutta Police Commissioner, from August 10, 1946, goons from outside Calcutta were seen in the slums of the city armed with sticks, spears and skewers. …… That day many Hindus were killed in Calcutta….. The next day there was a massive retaliation for the Hindu massacre that had taken place there the day before. The vultures cleared the city.
On 12 August 1946, a report was published in Dawn, which said- 'Muslims have no faith in non-violence nor are they hypocrites to preach non-violence and actually resort to violence. .'
On 16 August 1946, the Chief Minister of Bengal, Suhrawardy sent government employees on an extraordinary leave of three days. Brigadier J.J. PC McKinley ordered his soldiers to remain in the barracks that day. Bengal Chief Minister Suhrawardy and other League leaders addressed Muslim League workers at the Needil Memorial in Ochterlony in Calcutta.
A large number of workers working in the jute mills of Howrah participated in this meeting. Suhrawardy said in his speech- 'The cabinet mission was a hoax and now they will see how the British can get Mr. Nehru to rule Bengal. Direct Action Day will prove to be the first step in the struggle of Muslims to achieve liberation. …… you guys return home early….. We have made all arrangements so that the police and military do not obstruct your path.’
As soon as this meeting ended, riots broke out in the city. The Governor Borough of Bengal informed Lord Wavell about these riots by sending a telegram- 'The condition till six o'clock is that communal clashes are going on at many places all around. Along with this, looting and arson of shops is also going on. Most of the stone pelting is being done, but in some places guns have been used by people of both the communities and some incidents of knife pelting have also been reported.
... …… this unrest is still definitely communal and cannot be called anti-British in any way.’
Before the riots, coupons bearing the chief minister's signature were distributed in Muslim League lorries. The Calcutta daily 'The Statesman' wrote- 'There were groups of goons in the lorries who were attacking from place to place.' Curfew was imposed in the riot-affected areas at 6 p.m., but when the area commander ordered the deployment of Seventh Boosters and Green Howards troops from the northern barracks, they saw the College Street market burning up at 8 p.m. .
A few unburnt houses and shops have been completely looted on Amherst Street amid mob lynching. Smoldering debris is visible on Ajar circular road. The groans of frightened residents and the wounded could be heard on Harrison Road. Seeing many dead bodies, it seems that they have just died. According to Major Livermore, Calcutta had turned into a battlefield.
On one side there was the rule of the mob and on the other side there was civility and politeness. Most of the poor, low-caste illiterates in that violence-hit area were killed or those who had proved weak in defending their lives and property from mobs that broke down like robbers and eagles. P>