HC Deb 08 April 1946 vol 421 cc1651-2
90. Mr. Driberģ

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he has now considered the testimony submitted to him, through the hon. Member for Maldon, by a British officer, concerning the incident near the corner of Elphin-stone Road and Suparibang Road, in a part of Bombay in which there had been no rioting, at 4.10 p.m. on 22nd February, when British troops opened fire on an orderly and unarmed crowd, killing one woman and three men and injuring about 20 persons; if he has investigated the circumstances of this incident; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for India (Mr. Arthur Henderson)

As my reply is somewhat long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Driberģ

Can my hon. and learned Friend also say if it is satisfactory?

Mr. Henderson

That would be a matter of opinion.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Does it substantiate the allegation contained in the Question?

Mr. Henderson

I prefer to leave the hon. Member to form his own opinion.

Mr. Nicholson

But this is a serious allegation, and must either be substantiated or contradicted as soon as possible.

Mr. Henderson

The reply I propose to circulate is based on a report I received from the Commander-in-Chief, and it indicates that throughout the incident the civilian police and troops acted in the right of self-defence.

Following is the statement:

I have not yet seen the evidence referred to by my hon. Friend, but inquiries have been made in the light of his Question and the following is the substance of a report which has been received from the Commander-in-Chief, India:

Elphinstone Road was one of the areas particularly affected by the serious outbreak of rioting, looting and arson which occurred in Bombay on 22nd February. The civil authorities were obliged to apply for military assistance, and an infantry platoon under a British officer and accompanied by a magistrate and a civil police officer was sent to the area. They were met by a large hostile crowd throwing brickbats from sidewalks and roof tops and engaged in arson and looting. The police having opened fire without effect on the crowd, the military commander was called on by the magistrate at 4.5 p.m. to disperse the unlawful assembly. As the violence of the crowd persisted, the military commander ordered four bursts of automatic fire, which had the effect of dispersing the crowd, at any rate temporarily. Throughout the incident the civil police and troops acted in the right of self-defence, and for the purpose of checking looting and arson.

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