§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the further information with reference to the Moplah outbreak in Malabar; and, whether he will direct an independent Inquiry to be held into the origin of the outbreak and the circumstances under which 88 Moplahs, who had taken refuge in a temple, were put to death.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingOn March 16 the Government of Madras telegraphed as follows:—
A small detachment of our troops were fired upon first by Moplahs. Reinforcements arriving fired a volley, which was returned. The Moplahs were then invited to surrender, but replied abusively, asking the troops to fire. One of the Moplahs cut the throats of the wounded to prevent their capture alive; others were shot dead by their own side. The collector reports that another day's delay in attack would have increased the gang to 300.The telegram further promises a dispatch, which I expect to receive shortly, and, pending its receipt, I see no reason to pass any orders on the subject. The Government of Madras have already deputed a former collector of the district, in whom the people have confidence, as a special Commissioner to investigate the outbreak.