§ 7. Mr. J. HOPE SIMPSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India 2056 whether any and, if so, how many Moplahs have been transported to the Adaman Islands; how many are imprisoned in jails in India and Burma; and whether the sentences they are serving were inflicted by courts-martial or by the ordinary criminal courts of British India?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs regards Moplahs transported to the Adamans, inquiry has been made from the Government of India. On the 31st August last there were 8,185 Moplahs confined in jails; and there were then, or shortly after, 1,875 cases still to be finished in which 3,150 persons were being tried. Most of those convicted had been tried by the special courts, consisting of or including civil judicial officers, established Under the Malabar Ordinances. Military courts ceased to try cases when martial law ended on the 26th February, 1922. Up to the end of December, 1921, military courts had, it is believed, tried only 28 persons.
§ Mr. J. H. SIMPSONCan the Noble Lord tell us how many cases are still pending?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo; as the result of a previous question asked by the hon. Gentleman, I am making inquiries into the whole position.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the Noble Lord tell us how many were actually transported to the Adaman Islands, and how it is that the Adaman establishment, which was closed down by his predecessor, is now again open?
§ Earl WINTERTONThat is one of the questions about which I am making inquiry, as I promised a week ago.