3. Mr. WARD LAW-MILNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give any information on the alleged recent attempt of a Bengal police officer to entice a student of Brojomohan College, Barisal, to join a students' welfare society, in order to persuade its members to become revolutionaries?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe facts of the case are as follows: In a long letter to the "Forward" newspaper of Calcutta, a student named Sailesh Chandra Dhar made against a police inspector a charge of the nature stated in the question. The inspector prosecuted the student for defamation; the student pleaded guilty, and stated that the allegation made in his letter was false. He was convicted, and bound over to be of good behaviour. The "Forward" has published several articles on agents provocateurs, but this conviction disposed of the only specific accusation on which the articles have been based.
Mr. WARD LAW-MILNEIs it not the fact that a newspaper in this country, "The Daily Herald," published the allegation referred to in the question, and whether the paper has also published the result of the trial?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe very serious charge made against the police in the "Forward" newspaper of Calcutta was reproduced in "The Daily Herald" in this country. The sequel to that charge, which proved its utter baselessness, has not yet appeared in "The Daily Herald," but I hope it will when the editor has less pressure on his space.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the Noble Lord say categorically that the Government of India does not employ agents provocateurs?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, Sir, I will say so categorically, and I am very pleased to have the opportunity of denying a most gross and baseless insinuation.