§ 14. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for India if he has received a report on the renewal of communal trouble at Bombay on Wednesday last; and if adequate police reinforcements are available in the event of further riots of a similar character?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have not yet received any details of this disturbance. I have no reason to doubt the adequacy of the policy force in the city.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon Gentleman take the necessary steps to ensure that other police will be available if necessary?
§ Sir S. HOAREI said that I have no reason to doubt the adequacy of the police force in the city.
§ 15. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the present equipment of the police is inadequate to deal with local disturbances without opening fire; and what measures are contemplated to remedy this?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have seen in the Press that it has been suggested that methods not hitherto used by the police in India should be employed to disperse unlawful assemblies. Consideration has been given from time to time to suggestions of this kind, but they have been found in most cases to be impracticable. As my hon. Friend will be aware it is only on extremely rare occasions that the police fail to deal with disturbances without resort to firing.
§ Mr. HANNONHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the suggestion made by the police superintendent of Madras that tear gas might be used and would he consider the propriety of its introduction?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have seen a suggestion of that kind, and it is after consideration of that suggestion and others that I have given this answer.