HC Deb 28 April 1908 vol 187 cc1080-1
MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can give any information regarding the recent rioting in South India; and whether it was connected with celebrations of the release of Babu Bepin Chandra Pal, the Congress orator, and was part of a Swaraj agitation.

I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House any information regarding the recent riots at Tuticorin and Tinnevelly.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN,) Perthshire, E.

I will answer the hon. Member's two Questions on this subject together. The Secretary of State has received Reports of the occurrences referred to. At Tuticorin a meeting of about 2,000 persons was held on 13th March in defiance of an order issued by the magistrate, who had reason to fear a breach of the peace. In endeavouring to disperse the meeting, the magistrate and deputy-superintendent of police were stoned by the mob, who finally had to be fired on. Little damage was done. Some rioters were wounded, but none were killed. One police-officer was seriously injured, and has since been reported dead. At Tinnevelly on the same day a mob threw stones, broke lamps, and set fire to public buildings. The magistrate was unable to disperse the crowd, and was eventually obliged to order the police to fire. One rioter was killed, and seven wounded, of whom two are reported to have died. The rioting was connected with the celebration of the release of Bepin Chandra Pal and with a Swaraj agitation. The action of the authorities seems to show no excess of force under the circumstances, which I do not doubt have been correctly reported.

DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)

Is it not the case that meetings of congratulation upon the return from prison of Bipin Chandra Pal passed off peacefully throughout India with the exception of Tinnevelly and Tuticorin, where the authorities prohibited the holding of public meetings; and that it was this prohibition that led to rioting and loss of innocent life?

MR. BUCHANAN

I must ask for notice of that Question.