TRAGEDIES IN INDIA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1229, 18 September 1885, Page 3

TRAGEDIES IN INDIA.

An ext aordinary s-ries of tragedies committed hy Sepoy tnfanlry men is reported in recent numbers of the Indian papers. In the first case, a Native private of the Madras infantry, in a .moment of mission, commenced a murdei oh- 5 and indiscriminate att<sk on the offi 'ere. With twenty rounds of Hall ammunition in his possession, and standing behind an armory, he shot one oilier through the side, ki ing him on the spot, men were sent after him, hut hj? escaped, and shot an adjutant in the head, blowing his brains completely out. He then turned on the pursuing guards, threatening to shoot them it ihey did not co away. Tliev, however, ran. In the meantime the murderer w-nt to the parade ground of the regimen - and tired at a lieutenant, who was on horseback ; but the bullet missed. The lieutenant, however, was thrown from his horse. The murderer tried to shoot three other persons before he was S‘ cured. In a second and still more retnai liable case in Bombay, a native Sepoy “ran a-inuck,” and after mu dering two men and killing lits wife, barricade * himself in bis own quarters, and having secured a plentiful simp y of bad aram tuition, succeeded in defying the mi''itary strength of the garrison for something like six hours, during whi'di time he blazed away fifty-four r-unds of hall ammunition. He then shot himself. “ A more extraordinary stoiy,” lemarks the * Bombay Gnzet'e,’ “has never been told, and bad the occurrence not taken place in the mid de of a great city, with soidiers and policemen and reporters looking on, we would scarcely expect our readers to credit it. The culprit* Lai Khan, a Sepoy of the 9th B mnbov N. 1., was a Poshawur Pathan of an indifferent character. He had !>• en in the service twelve years and had Ireen punishe l for maltreating his wife. He was on guard doty when he came across Oho'a Singh, whom he seems to have associated both with his punishment and his wife. He said a few words to Chota Cingh, shot him dead through the neck, and then rushed down the lines t<> his own chaw). Here, after he had s cttrely barricaded the door, he begin to thrash Ira wife. A n ig-hour on the other side of the lines attempted to remon s'rate. Lan Khan thrust his rifle through the chawl wall, got a fair shot at his neighbour, mid knled him. He then shot his own \vif-. Having killed three \idims be p epared to stand siege By the time the men of the Ninth had rallied lie was ready for them. The polio- 1 were soon i n tho -pot. but could not interfere while tne mill ary were there. Foully the murderer I fid himself down hesi lethe dea I body of lus wife a girl of six een, put the rifle against his breas - , and pulled tho trigger wi : h his foot. At last tho doors were broken down, and the corpse of the unfortunate wretch was found su rounded by fiftyfour empty cartridges and a number of hall corlridg s ready for use. The affair lasted from six til noon. An immense cowd had assembled, and most alarming rumors pre"ailed, and for some time the traffic near the place was stopped. By extraordinary good lack the numoer of victims was limited to three.”