HC Deb 16 April 1913 vol 51 cc1961-2W
Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Under-Secretary for India what was the weekly pay in English money of the four policemen convicted of torturing innocent persons in the recent Poona case; whether the police could read and write; and what is the total number of illiterate policemen in the Bombay force?

Mr. MONTAGU

Of the four "policemen" convicted in this case, one was a "police pate]," that is a village policeman not belonging to the regular force; one was a havildar, whose pay in English money would be not less than 4s. 7d. or more than 10s. 9d. a week; two were constables whose pay would be not less than 3s. 1d. or more than 4s. a week. I cannot say whether these individuals could read or write. In the whole police force of the Bombay Presidency of 22,911 there are about 11,000 constables who are illiterate.