§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked whether the Secretary of State has yet received any official information as to what steps the Government of the Punjab has taken to punish the policemen found by the sessions judge at Rawal Pindi as long ago as 12th June to have tortured by racking one Ghulam Mohammed into a confession of the crime of murder; or whether it is the intention of the Executive to take any criminal proceedings consequent upon the grave view taken by the judge on the action of the police?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State has now received official information on the subject of the case referred to in the question. The sessions judge did not find it proved that Ghulam Mohammed had been tortured by the police into a confession. He said (after enumerating matters which seemed to him 4 suspicious) that the police investigation in the case seemed to him to call for inquiry. The Lieutenant-Governor has now made the inquiry suggested, and has come to the conclusion that the charge of torture is false, and that no blame attaches to the police.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSMay I ask whether the judge did not say that marks were visible on the man's arms and legs, and that the man had been threatened that he would be taken back to the place where he had been formerly racked?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe judge did refer to marks on the prisoner which called for inquiry, and all the circumstances were taken into consideration in the inquiry which took place.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSBy whom was the inquiry made into the conduct of the police?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThat is the same question as was put by the hon. Member in another case of torture or alleged torture, and I replied that the Lieutenant-Governor was responsible for the report.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLTo what are these marks on the man's arms and legs attributed? How do they come to be present—what is the theory?
The MASTER of ELIBANKI cannot really carry in my mind the whole of the reports of these inquiries. The Executive Government went very carefully into these matters, and came to the decision which I gave to the House.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLThere were marks of violence on this man said to have been produced by torture. To what are those marks attributable?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of his question.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSWas the inquiry conducted in secret without opportunity of cross-examining on the evidence?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe inquiry was conducted precisely in the same way as in the other ease, and in accordance with the usual practice.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSIn secret?