§ 10. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give the Rouse the latest information he has as to the conditions in India?
§ Mr. BENNI am circulating a statement of the Government of India's appreciation of the situation up to 12th July.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Appreciation of the situation by the Government of India up to 12th July, 1930.
§ 1. North-West Frontier Province.—(A) Tribal.—The week has seen a recrudescence of hostile activity in South Waziristan in Upper Shaktu Area. A hostile Shabi Khel Mulla named Gulin, succeeded in collecting a lashkar of Shabi Khel Kikarai Jalal Khel and Nazar Khel Mahsuds. Simultaneously, Mulla Kundalai with Ramzan, Sadde Khan and other hostile leaders collected a lashkar in the Maidan and Baddar valley area on the evening of 6th July. Gulin's lashkar invested the Scouts post at Sararogha, and during the night fired shots into post. They destroyed a neighbouring Khassadar post and smashed water pumps on which post depends for water supply. On morning 7th July, Kundalai's lashkar from Maidan and Baddar entered Marobi village on main Razmak-Sararogha road, attacked Khassadar post at Shamak Raghza and destroyed the road bridge above Marobi. The lashkar then joined forces with Gulin at Sararogha on evening of 7th July. A strong party under Sadde Khan and others was detached from Sararogha and moved down road, their objectives apparently being Kotkai and Ahnai Scouts posts, and the Khassadar posts south of Sararogha.
§ On 8th July, main lashkar was still in position round Sararogha. In late evening they again concerted attack on Scouts post and a gun belonging to Sadde Khan was brought into action. The gun was put out of action by machine gun fire from the post and lashkar withdrew to a distance, but kept up long range sniping. Lashkar withdrew northwards on morning 9th July, but in evening of same day returned and made further determined attack on Scouts post. They were repulsed with considerable loss, including it is said, destruction of gunners owing to bursting of Sadde Khan's gun. Lashkar then retired towards Piazha, captured and destroyed Khassadar posts at Piazha and Bibizai and invested Khassadar posts at Shamak and Ladha. On the advent of the Razmak column on 10th July, lashkar withdrew towards 898 Maidan. Noticeable feature of operation has been co-operation on part of friendly sections and the loyalty of Khassadars. On 7th July, Khassadar posts at Maidan, Bibizai and Shamak Raghza successfully defied Kundalai's lashkar, and friendly Abdullai of Makin posted force of 200 men at Tauda China in order to deny lashkar admittance to Makin. In neighbourhood of Sararogha, Khassadars and friendly sections have co-operated with Scouts. On 10th July, Abdullai of Makin moved out in force to assist Khassadars at Shamak and co-operated with Razmak Column. Continuous air action has been maintained against lashkars and areas which supplied them, and numerous casualties have been inflicted on lashkars.
§ On Peshawar border, Alingar Fakir is still active. By 10th July, he had again collected lashkar about 1,000 strong at Agra Shamozai, between Malakand and Swat River, with intention of re-occupying old position in caves near Pallai. In Jindai Khwar warning was issued that action would be taken if gathering did not disperse. Haji of Turangzai has announced his intention to leave Mohmand country if Mohmands do not join him in. Jehad. Among Afridis, general intention now appears to be to collect representative jirga for discussion with Government. Maliks and elders making efforts to bring this about, but are encountering opposition from Mullas and young bloods. Some slight anti-Government activity reported amongst Ali Khel and Malla Khel sections of Orakzai Tribe. On 8th July, patrol of Kurram Militia was fired on by trans-border gang.
§ (B) Internal.—Bannu District reports slight recrudescence of political meetings in villages. Five Congress volunteers organising picketing by villagers in Bannu City, were arrested and sentenced. On night 8th July, a slight explosion occurred in Peshawar City outside the house of an Honorary Magistrate, but very little damage was done. Mardan reports a dacoity at Dagi in Swabi Tabsil, in which dacoits were disguised as police; otherwise position generally returning to normal.
§ In other parts of India, Civil Disobedience movement pursues its course. There has been increased activity in some 899 places and lull in others, but on whole recent indications of decline have been maintained. In several towns renewed energy has been imparted by the return of students from their vacations. They have given some trouble in Calcutta and Bombay. Their chief activities are to prevent the attendance of pupils at Government schools and colleges and of candidates at Government examinations. It is reported that in Bengal, as a whole, Civil Disobedience movement is on decrease, but that tendency towards violence is increasing, and there are signs that terrorist party may become more active. Madras Presidency also reports definite slackening in movement due, however, more to vigorous action by authorities than to voluntary abandonment by its adherents.
§ Similar improvement is manifested in other Provinces, except in Bombay and Central Provinces. Further clashes have taken place in Bombay Presidency between authorities and public, most serious of which occurred on 11th in Bombay, when Congress volunteers persisted in their attempts to hold procession and meeting in honour of Garhwali soldiers who have been convicted of mutiny. In spite of orders of Commissioner of Police forbidding procession, volunteers made persistent efforts to defy authority and police had to make several charges before intention was abandoned. There was collision during week between police and crowd in Poona and, owing to its aggresive attitude, crowd had to be dispersed by force. In Gujerat, on the other hand, there are signs of improvement, and in several districts village officers, who had been persuaded or coerced resign their offices, are withdrawing their resignations in considerable numbers. In Central Provinces an organised movement has been started to defy Forest Laws.
§ While the movement remains in principle non-violent, incidents are continually occurring which show rank and file, especially in rural areas, cannot be restrained from acts of violence. This most commonly takes form of attacks on small parties of police, and four or five incidents of this nature have been reported during week from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and Madras.
§ In Punjab, agitation in regard to the Sisganj Gurdwara affair has been 900 revived. It will be remembered that on 6th May, in course of rioting at Delhi, firing had to be directed towards building in order to protect, from murderous shower of brickbats proceeding from Gurdwara, party of police who, at great risk to themselves, were going to rescue of their comrades. This incident has been used by extremists to stir up ill-feeling towards Government, and band of 100 Akalis started this week from Amritsar to march to Delhi. There is at present no reason to suppose Sikhs, as whole, are seriously affected.