§ MAJOR RASCHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to give the House any information with referent to the reported punishment of the 9th Lancers, now quartered at Sialkote.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)The punishment inflicted on the 9th Lancers was (1) recall from leave (other than leave on medical certificate) of all officers and men, and stoppage of all leave until 1st June, 1903; (2) imposition of additional sentry duty while the regiment is in cantonments until 1st June, 1903. It may be well that I should 1120 add that I am informed by the Government of India that this punishment was inflicted by them because a native was assaulted and died of his injuries under circumstances which made it reasonably certain that his assailants were men of the 9th Lancers, and because, subsequently, no serious attempt to discover the offenders was made by the regimental authorities, on whom, as well as on the men of the regiment, the responsibility for the failure to bring them to justice is considered by the Government of India to rest.
§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)May I ask whether that has been done with the full sanction of the officer commanding and the military authorities?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe punishment has been inflicted on the regiment with the full approval of the military authorities.
§ COLONEL LEGGE (St. George's, Hanover Square)Will a full and independent inquiry be made into all the circumstances of the case?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONNo, Sir. This is a matter of military discipline with which I do not feel called upon to interfere.