§ 106. Mr. Lawasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he can give any information as to the circumstances in which certain British subjects were murdered whilst taking refuge in the convent at Barramula, India; whether they had been given the opportunity of getting out of Kashmir or had elected to remain; and if representations 215W have been made to the Government of Pakistan for all possible steps to be taken to seek out and punish the murderers.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI greatly regret that Lieut.-Colonel D. O. T. Dykes, of the Sikh Regiment, and Mrs. Dykes were brutally murdered by tribesmen on 27th October at St. Joseph's Convent, Barra-mula, Kashmir, where they had been staying for some time. I am sure that the House would wish me to extend its sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. Colonel and Mrs. Dykes had been unable, owing to Mrs. Dykes' confinement, to avail themselves of an opportunity of leaving Kashmir in a military convoy early in October. Subsequent plans for their evacuation were frustrated by the rapid advance of the tribesmen. I have instructed the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom in India and Pakistan to inquire of their respective Governments whether they can trace and punish the murderers. I understand that the Indian Military authorities in Kashmir are already making inquiries to this end.