§ 10. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information with regard to the rioting at Lahore and as to what were the reasons for the outbreak?
§ 24. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state the origin of the recent rioting in Lahore, the number of casualties, and the latest information as to the state of affairs in that city?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of two communiques issued by the Punjab Government at midday on Thursday the 5th, and on the afternoon of Friday the 6th May, which state the facts up to 3 p.m. on the 6th. The reports so far received state that the origin of the outbreak is still obscure, beyond that it was a quarrel of some kind between Sikhs and Mohammedans. Telegraphic reports subsequent to the issue of the communiques indicate that only three further assaults on individuals had occurred since the afternoon of the 6th and that on the morning of the 8th all the shops had re-opened and the appearance of the city was normal; but no relaxation was being made of the military or police precautions. Meanwhile four more of the wounded persons—three Hindus and one Moslem—have died in hospital, thus bringing the total death roll to 22.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONCan the Noble Lord say the total number of the casualties?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have said that the total number of deaths was 22. The total number of casualties, besides the killed, that is, the injured, is, I think, something over 100, caused by the action of the mob and not the police, as far as I am aware.
§ Colonel DAYHave there been any arrests?
§ Earl WINTERTONObviously, a large number of arrests have been made, but I cannot give the exact number without notice. The city has been in a state of ferment for several days.
§ Following are the communiques: