§ 10. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been directed to the case of Mr. S. V. Kanchan, who was imprisoned in Bombay under the Emergency Powers Ordinance until 13th June when he was released but ordered not to leave the police commissioner's office and to report to the superintendent of police 10 minutes after his release; whether he is aware that after the expiry of the 10 minutes Mr. Kanchan was re-arrested for breach of this order and, on 16th June, sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment; and whether he will take steps to have this procedure abolished?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have no information about this particular case.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill inquiries be made to ascertain whether the facts are as stated in the question?
§ Sir S. HOAREIf the hon. Member asks me to make inquiries, I will certainly make inquiries.
§ 13. Mr. MORGAN JONES (for Mr. RHYS DAVIES)asked the Secretary of State for India for what reasons it has been decided to deport political prisoners to the Andaman Islands or elsewhere to relieve the congestion in the Indian gaols?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe transfer has been approved of 100 prisoners, convicted of terrorist offences, from gaols in Bengal to the Andamans. This measure is necessary in the interests of gaol discipline, which the terrorist prisoners have been doing their utmost to undermine and also with a view to prevent the plotting of further outrages.