§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the inquiry instituted by the Government of India into the conduct of the police officials condemned by the High Court of Calcutta in the Midnapur appeal, on 1st June, has been concluded; if so, with what result; and whether the police officers in question are still in the service of the Government?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State has not yet heard whether the inquiry has been concluded.
§ Mr. MACKARNESSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the finding by the High Court of Calcutta in the Midnapur appeal that a confession of guilt was extorted by the police from one of the accused by keeping him for many days in solitary confinement in a condemned cell, in breach of the law, and waking him up every three hours, and threatening his father with pains and penalties if his son did not confess, and in view of the evidence contained in this and other recent judicial utterances of the existence of the practice of the police, condemned by Sir Andrew Fraser's Commission, of extorting evidence by illegal pressure of various kinds, the Government of India will consider the need for thorough reforms in the methods of investigating crime?
The MASTER of ELIBANKPerhaps I may reply to this question by referring the hon. Member to the very full statement that I made on the subject last Tuesday. I do not feel that I have anything either to add or to modify. The Government of India keep the matter constantly before them, and any case of such practices that may be established against the police is met by severe punishment of the guilty persons.
§ Mr. REESWill the hon. Gentleman state whether there is any alternative for policing the natives of India by the natives other than the wholesale substitution of Europeans or the introduction of martial law?