HC Deb 01 January 1913 vol 46 c340
19. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked if the Report on the case of Ulaskar Dutt, which was promised on the 14th November, has been received from India; and, if so, does the Report admit that his madness was caused by the torture to which he was subjected in prison?

Mr. H. BAKER

The Report has been received. Ulaskar Dutt was pronounced to be insane after two months' observation in the medical ward. He suffered from daily attacks of malarial fever accompanied by convulsions, and his insanity is attributed to severe malarial infection. The Government of India are satisfied that it did not result from prison treatment.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Is it not a fact that this man's hands were tied to pillars, and that he was held in that position for a considerable time, and that after scientific treatment signs of insanity followed?

Mr. BAKER

No, Sir. I understand what happened was that he was subjected to a perfectly proper form of prison punishment, in which his hands were confined on a level with his breast, and that he then contracted malarial fever, and that in consequence of malarial fever insanity supervened.