§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state how many raids by Afridis into British territory have taken place during the past four months; and whether it is intended to despatch a punitive expedition from Peshawur against this tribe.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The number of raids by Zakka Khel specially reported since 1st October, by the Government of India is eleven. None of these raids can be classed with mere border disturbances such as are frequent on the tribal frontier. They were all serious raids organised for purposes of plunder, and executed by armed bands of Zakka Khel beyond the limits of tribal territory, and in the area under the direct administration of the Government of India. In these raids nine of our people were killed and thirteen wounded. Among the killed were six police and two native soldiers, and among the wounded eight police and one native soldier. Also large quantities of property, including rifles, were carried off. All the usual methods of bringing about a settlement between the elders of the tribe and the political officer have failed. Of the raids mentioned above three occurred in January. On 3rd January at Jalozai, 15 miles south-east of Peshawur, two Government employees were mortally wounded: and forty-one mules were carried off. On 24th January the railway station at Kacha Garhi, between Peshawur and 1374 Jamrud, was raided, one of the station staff being severely wounded. On 29th January, a gang raided in Peshawur city, escaping with property estimated at a lakh after killing one police constable and wounding two others. In addition to the above, two further raids attributed to Zakka Khel have been reported on the 7th and 8th February. In the one, at Abazai village, the raiders looted the house of a Hindu who was shot. In the other, at Tirchi Bala, in the Peshawur district, they looted the house of a Hindu and removed cash and jewels to the value of Rs. 800. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government have sanctioned punitive measures against the tribe.