HC Deb 28 July 1924 vol 176 cc1732-3
2. Earl WINTERTON

asked the Undersecretary of State for India if normal conditions of public order have now been restored in Delhi; it British troops have been relieved from street duty; and what was the total number of such troops on such ditty during the riots?

Mr. RICHARDS

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Chief Commissioner reports that troops were intermittently employed from the 11th to the 17th July. The maximum number employed was 75 British infantry, with six armoured cars, and 100 Indian cavalry. The troops did not fire.

Mr. HOPE SIMPSON

Have these disturbances ceased all over India, or are they still continuing in other parts?

Mr. RICHARDS

I have no recent information which leads me to believe that disturbances are going on elsewhere.

3. Earl WINTERTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many persons were killed and injured in the recent disturbances in Delhi; and how many of such casualties were attributable to clashes between the rival Hindu and Mohammedan mobs and how many to action by the police and military?

Mr. RICHARDS

16 Hindus and one Mohammedan were killed. 96 Hindus, 50 Mohammedans and four police were injured. These figures do not include casualties treated privately. No casualties are reported to have been caused by the troops, who did not fire. As stated last week, two persons were killed by the police, who opened fire with buckshot.

Earl WINTERTON

Are we to understand from the hon. Gentleman's answer that the vast majority of the casualties are caused by the clash between rival parties, and not by the police or military bodies?

Mr. RICHARDS

That is so. Only two were caused by the police.

Colonel Sir CHARLES YATE

In what other places have similar disturbances occurred?

Mr. RICHARDS

I have just said that I have no recent information.