§ Sir C. OMANasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the recent murderous assaults on landowners in the United Provinces have been 56W almost exclusively upon Moslem landowners and have in all cases been traced to local Congress organisations; and what action is proposed by the Provincial Government to cope with this aspect of the communal question?
§ Mr. BENNSince 22nd March, three cases of murderous assault on landowners have occurred. One of these, which took place in March, is believed to have been an outcome of the no-rent agitation, but the other two cases seem to have arisen out of local quarrels. The United Provinces Government reports that on the evidence available these three outbreaks cannot be regarded as primarily of communal origin. The local government has taken action under the ordinary law against the offenders, and in one case additional police have been imposed on the village concerned. Reserves of armed police have been strengthened in the disturbed areas.