§ 2. Mr. THURTLEasked the Undersecretary of State for India the reason why it is not proposed to bring to trial the three Sikhs at present imprisoned in India under Regulation 111 of 1818?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs I stated in reply to the hon. Member on the 23rd July last, the reason is that the detention of these men is not intended as a 1670 punishment for past offences. Its object is to prevent their pursuing in India the seditious activities in which they are known to have been engaged elsewhere.
§ Mr. THURTLEDo I understand from that reply, that it is now the intention of the Government of India, when it thinks fit, to keep people in prison without a trial—before they are proved guilty?
§ Earl WINTERTONOf the three Sikhs referred to, as I said in my answer of 23rd July, two were deported to India from Shanghai on the expiration of sentences of imprisonment there for possessing seditious matter with intent to distribute and of conspiring to cause disaffection among the King's subjects. They were both extremely dangerous revolutionaries whose presence in Shanghai was a danger to the wellbeing of the inhabitants. In regard to the third man, he took part in very serious seditious activities in Europe.
§ Mr. THURTLEI take it that the Noble Lord admits that that man has never been found guilty?
§ Earl WINTERTONNot in India but it is intended to keep him in prison to prevent him doing the mischief in India which he attempted to do elsewhere.
Mr. BECKETTDoes the Noble Lord say that these men are dangerous revolutionaries before they have been tried or proved guilty?
§ Earl WINTERTONI say that they were dangerous revolutionaries before, and they are being kept in prison to prevent them doing any mischief.