§ Colonel Sir C. YATE(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for India if he has any information to give the House regarding the disturbance at Mankana, in which the number of killed are said to be about 200, and what was the cause of it?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. SANDERS (Lord of the Treasury)My right hon. Friend received the following telegram from the Government of India on Tuesday:
Following telegram received from Government of Punjab, dated 20th February. Serious fight has taken place at Nankana in Sheikhpura district between Mahants party and Sikh reformers. Large numbers believed wounded, and one corpse reported burnt. Deputy Commissioner has cabled for military assistance, and 100 British and 100 Indian troops leave Lahore this afternoon accompanied by Commissioner.I may explain that a Mahant is the person in charge of a temple or religious property, and that previous to this occurrence (as to which no further details have so far been received) the Government of India reported that there had been trouble recently in several places in the Punjab connected with Sikh shrines, and that, in consequence, the Punjab Government has decided to move its legislative council to appoint a committee of inquiry with a view to legislation.