HC Deb 21 December 1933 vol 284 cc1484-5W
Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the Moral and Material Progress of India for 1931-32, issued under his authority, states that the terrorist crimes perpetrated in Bengal in 1932 were 97, 10 of these being murders and 27 attempted murders, whereas on 13th November last, in reply to a question, he stated that the terrorist crimes for the same Province and year were 75, with five murderous outrages and six attempts at outrages; and can he explain the discrepancy in these figures?

Sir S. HOARE

I am obliged to the Noble Lady for drawing my attention to this discrepancy. I am inquiring from the Government of India as to the explanation, which is, no doubt, due to some difference of definition. The Noble Lady will realise that it is difficult in some cases to say whether a crime should be classed as "terrorist."