SEDITIOUS PLOT IN INDIA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 890, 9 August 1910, Page 5

SEDITIOUS PLOT IN INDIA.

ARRESTS IN BENGAL'. EVERY PROVINCE BELIEVED TO BE INVOLVED. SEDITIOUS MEETINGS ACT. By Telegrapn-Press Association-Oopyrisnt. (Eec. August 8, 9.35 p.m.) Calcutta, August 8. The authorities are retioont regarding tho conspiracy in Bengal, in connection, with which aivests have been effected in. "every quarter of the province. Tho persons arrested include Putin Behardies, who was deported some time back, but released in February last. It is reported that a cartridge-making machine has been seized, The conspirators are . charged with having committed offences under the Arms Act, and of waging war against the Emperor of India. • Documents have been discovered which suggest that a conspiracy in subversion of' British rule has been 'organised, affecting every province. The Legislative Council, which is in session at Simla, has renewed the Seditions Meetings Act of 1907 till Jlarch, 19-11, despite the opposition of eight nonofficial members. Tho Viceroy, Lord Minto, intimated that his successor's Council will reconsider tho whole problem. In reply to a question, by Mr. Kcir Hardie, Mr. E. S. Montagu, Under-Secre-tary for India, made tho following statcment in the House of Commons in April: —"Three districts in Eastern Bengal were proclaimed last month under the Seditious Meetings Act of NO7. Snch proclamation has tho effect of enabling the magistrates of those districts to prohibit a public meeting which is likely to promote sedition or to disturb public tranquillity. The intention of the Local Government is to prevent the excitement of lawlessness by meetings organised from outside the districts for the purpose of reviving agitation. The magistrates concerned were instructed to prohibit such meetings unless satisfactory assurances were given that tho proceedings would be unobjectionable." The Seditious Meetings Act of 1907 may be brought into force by proclamation in any part of British India. Under it a gathering of 20 persons even though held in a private plane, aud with admission restricted to the bearers of tickets, constitutes a public meeting. No public meeting may bo held within a proclaimed area unless written notice has been given to tho authorities and permission obtained. Anj breach of the .Act is punishable by imprisonment or by fine, or both.