INDIA’S “DEVIL’S ISLAND”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 201, 20 May 1921, Page 5

INDIA’S “DEVIL’S ISLAND”

PROPOSED ABOLITION. Mention of the proposed abolition of the Andaman Islands as a penal settlement was made recently in a communique issued by the India Office, which states: . “The Government of India reports that in connection with the Budget allotment in the Legislative Assembly on March 11 for Indian gaols, a request was made by the non-official members for a statement regarding policy in connection with the penal settlement in the Andamans. The Home Member explained that for some time misgivings had been felt by Government regarding the conditions there prevailing. The appointment of a committee had been delayed by the war, but it had been proceeded with thereafter with the least possible delay. In the interval considerable improvement had been made, further improvement had been made last year, and the Government was in correspondence with the Chief Commissioner regarding other changes calculated to ameliorate condiitions in the settlement, and had made special provision for this purpose in the Budget.

"They had considered a proposal made by the committee to retain the penal settlement in the Andamans for about 1500 criminals of the most dangerous type, but. they had decided, after consulting the Secretary of State for India,, that the best course wns to abolish the penal settlement altogether. The process would necessarily take time, as a considerable number of new gaols would have to be built by the provinces, but the scheme would be worked out ’as quickly .as practicable. As far as possible no further prisoners would be sent to the Andamans, and orders had been, issued for the removal thence of political prisoners to gaols in the provinces to which they belonged; the same orders had been issued as to female prisoners.”

The Andaman Islands are to India very much what "Devil’s Island’’ (Cayenne) is to France. They are situated on the cast side of the Bay of Bengal, about 800 miles from the mouth of the •river Hoogly. There arc four principal islands, and the total area is about 2000 square miles. Port Blair, the chief town, is in the southern island of the Grant Andaman group, and has one of the finest harbours in the world. It was at this place that the Earl of Mayo, then Viceroy of India, was shot dead on February 8. 1872. while on a tour of inspection. The convict settlement was originally established ns far back as 1789.