1. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the 476 numbers of persons killed and injured, respectively, in the communal riots in the various provinces of British India during the year 1935?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)With the Noble Lady's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the information required.
§ Following is the statement:
§ STATEMENT showing the numbers of persons killed and injured in communal riots in various provinces in British India during the year 1935.
| Killed. | Injured. | |
| Bengal | — | 20 |
| Bihar and Orissa | 8 | 12 |
| Bombay* | 47 | 134 |
| Central Provinces | — | 3 |
| Madras | 12 | 75 |
| North-West Frontier Province | 1 | 7 |
| Punjab† | 24 | 188 |
| United Provinces | 13 | 77 |
| Total | 105 | 516 |
| * Karachi riots, 19th March. | ||
| † Shahidganj Mosque riots on 20th July and 1st December. |
2. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give an account of the recent communal riots in Bombay, stating in particular the number of killed and injured and the material damage caused?
§ Mr. BUTLERI would refer the Noble Lady to the answer I gave to a question asked by the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on Thursday, 29th October, to which I have nothing fresh to add. I regret that I have no information as to the amount of material damage caused.
Duchess of ATHOLLIs the Under-Secretary aware that since he gave that reply, on more than one occasion there have appeared in the Press accounts of further stabbing affrays in Bombay between the different religious communities, and does he not fear that there may be a serious increase in communal disturbances in Bombay if the control of the police is handed over under the new Constitution?
§ Mr. BUTLERI have seen the accounts in the Press, but when I receive official corroboration I will communicate 477 with the Noble Lady. With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot accept the implications contained therein. I have perfect confidence in the present authorities and in the authorities in future under the new Constitution.