§ 7. Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can make any statement as to the continuance of terrorism in Bengal; whether it is entailing any special precautions on the part of the authorities; whether he will give the number of casualties in the recent communal riots in Bengal; and whether these disturbances are showing signs of increase?
§ Earl WINTERTONI fear that no statement on the two quite distinct matters raised in the question could be brought within the usual limits of an answer. It is clear that terrorist activities continue in Bengal, and require constant vigilance; for example, a gang has recently been tried and convicted for the unlawful possession of bombs. As regards communal disturbances, which do not seem at present to be increasing, I cannot give complete figures, but the Hindu-Moslem riot in the Bakarganj district on the 2nd March resulted in 14 deaths and 8 cases of wounds.
§ Mr. THURTLEDo I take it that the Noble Lord does not mean the House to understand that communal riots have anything at all to do with what is known as terrorism?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer was in exactly that sense, I think. I said it was difficult to discuss the two matters in one answer.