§ 2. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to state the number of cases during the past year in which a collective fine has been imposed on a whole town, village, or district in India; the amount of any such fine; and the reasons for which it was imposed?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)There has not yet been time for the reply to the inquiry I made on this subject following the question asked by the hon. Member for East Woolwich on the 31st October to reach me. I will communicate with the hon. Member when I receive it.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that the Government have no information in regard to the number of cases where collective fines have been inflicted?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, we have some information, but we have not the information necessary to answer the particular question asked by the hon. Member.
§ 10. Major MILNERasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware 452 that a collective fine of Rs.80,000 has been imposed on inhabitants of Chittagong who are owners or occupants of holdings within the Chittagong municipal area, and the inhabitants of Pahartali railway colony and seven neighbouring villages; and whether it is the policy of the Government of India to adopt the system of imposing a fine on whole districts if the actual malefactors cannot be traced?
§ Sir S. HOAREA fine of Rs.80,000 has been imposed on Chittagong town and seven neighbouring villages, but collection has been postponed till 1st December in order to give the inhabitants an opportunity of proving the bona fides of their recently formed "Terrorism Suppression Committees." The local Government has power under the Bengal Suppression of Terrorist Outrages Act to impose collective fines of this kind on the inhabitants of any area who are thought to be concerned in or assisting offences of a terrorist nature.
§ Major MILNERDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that this sort of action is calculated to improve the atmosphere, when a fine is inflicted on a whole community?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am afraid that action of this kind is necessary as we are dealing with very dangerous terrorists. This is not a question of civil disturbance, but a question of terrorism.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the duty of the police or the authorities to find the malefactors and not to inflict punishment upon innocent inhabitants of 57 districts?
§ Sir S. HOAREIt is the duty of the police to find the malefactors, and it is the duty of the civil population to help them.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that people who have no police responsibility at all ought to be charged with the same offence and have fines inflicted upon them without having any responsibility whatsoever?
§ Sir S. HOAREIt is evident that in Bengal a number of people are conniving with the terrorists. It is against them that action of this kind has to be taken.
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLTo what use are these fines applied when they are collected?
§ Sir S. HOARETo the general use of the community.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESCan the right hon. Gentleman say if there was any justification for involving people who were not conniving with or hiding these alleged criminals?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am afraid that action of this kind is inevitable. It is taken not under an emergency ordinance, but under an Act actually passed by the Bengal Legislature.