HC Deb 23 November 1893 vol 18 cc1526-7
MR. CAINE (Bradford, E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the circumstances attendant upon the death of Hampana, a Hindu railway gatekeeper at Guntakal, Madras Railway, who was shot by one of a party of soldiers belonging to the details of the 2nd Welsh Regiment proceeding from Wellington to Secunderabad, and who died within 23 hours after being shot; whether he is aware that Hampana was shot while protecting two Hindu women from the violence of the soldiers, the women having fled to his hut for safety; that the only means of identification offered to the dying man was the passing of 120 fully-accoutred soldiers past him at 8 o'clock at night on a dimly-lighted platform; that when a search was made for the revolver with which the shot was fired the bedding and the persons of the soldiers wore omitted in the search; and that the officer in command proceeded to Seeunderabad with his detachment within a, few hours of the shot being fired, and without giving the wounded man the opportunity of identifying during daylight the man who fired the shot; and whether the Secretary of State will obtain and lay all Papers connected with this matter upon the Table of the House?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. George Russell,) North Beds.

The Government of Madras will be called on for a Report on the case. The Secretary of State has reason to believe that Government has offered a reward of Rs. 1,000 for such evidence as may lead to the detection of the offenders.

MR. PICTON

Has any official notice been taken of the conduct of the officer in charge of these troops?

MR. GEORGE RUSSELL

Until we have the information from the Government of India I am unable to add anything to my answer.