INDIA’S UNREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1921, Page 3

INDIA’S UNREST.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. TRAGEDY ENQUIRY DELHI, Dec V Further evidence regarding the Tiruf train tragedy is detailed by ft Coimbatore correspondent, who says:—“Parakknl Ismail, one of the Native prisoners, examined, by the Inquiry Committee said: The prisoner's were fed find given plenty of water at Tirur. Iho van was most crowded. The, prisoners were not able to sit properly. The first time the train slopped, all of them asked for water, but they received no answer. , The next time the train stopped the prisoners called out that many were fainting and would die, and they pleaded it would lie enough if even the doors were opened. The witness himself fainted soon after, and lie remembered nothing more till he was called to attention by Coimbatore. The prisoners were sweating profitsfiiy. They could not breathe. Some of them were so thirsty that they drank the. perspiration, squeezing it from their clothes. Sonic unsucossf idly tried to r,online the >'iiU7.e from the openings in the mile „f the van. All of them were obliged to stand, tint soon they began to fall don-,,. They then lay on top of each other and did not light. Another convict declared that on one occasion a voice outside told the pi Isooers that if they persisted in calling out. they would he shot. A third prisoner deposed that the van was not very crowded, hut, there was no air. lie had tried to get air by putting his mouth near an opening at the bottom of the door. Other evidence given related how & prisoner sat. with ids dying fathei s head in his lap. crying mil : “You may tie ns up, but let ns have air." 'I hell a further allegation was that some people outside, wlm were believed to bo Hindus, jeered at the prisoners saying: “Aren’t you Khalifat people with guns and swords' Can’t you take water by force 8”

Madras advices slat,- that the senior medical officer of Malabar, ill giving evidence at Pntiaur, stated that the surviving prisoners had received every attention when proceeding to Coimbatore. Hi‘ expressed the opinion that the prisoners were asphyxiated. 1 here were too many in the vail Lotli tor the air and floor space, even with the ventilating gauze removed. He was not core that the van used was not fit for conveying human beings.

Th,. District Medical Officer denied thaL any of tile bodies were nmngled, but lie expressed the. opiuon that he would not have recommended tins carry lug of 10(1 prisoners in such a van.

RHITISII MILITARY Oi’Eli ATM IN j, WAZIRS WIRE A FORCE OFT.

DELHI. Dec. 2. It is officially repelled the Rritis! troops have made excellent piogiesin the Kotlakkal. Maiiaarghal, and Ca limit aieas. The native enemy force: hare broken lIP, and,many Miriendef: ai e Ml. mg || pm I'd. II.d! the t rim 1 m< non n is staled, r. mused In Inca

Small detachments ol Ciiurkas killed four ami wounded lluee natives, while the police captured 13 at laimr. A large rebel eniieciUralion ai Tallin, which was rumoured lately, lias not materialised. The rebels there have lied to the hills, in have passed through .the Rrilish lines. Then spasmodic murders and looting, whim do not effect the main issue, hut they

are causing ahum, and arc picvcntin. a restoration of public confidence. It is officially stated to-day that spe rial police have killed 211 more rebels. The Suffolk regiment is cstaMlishin;

signal stations. The rebels are moving from east ti west, 1 lien reported object being in s;u l!i<• ir prayers at Mniiiipurain, pi ho L t!•.■ ir making a final stand. A roll li rnia li* ill ot this repo 11 i aft aiud.

Further details of a Waziii raid iron: Afghanistan show that officcis were killed. They include Captain Enfwislle and Lieutenant Garret t. ol the 02nd Punjabis. The former was killed while gallantly leading a counter attack, lie was wounded eaily, bui continued to lead the men. until killed. The oomman.l developed on a Sikh officer, and a small hand fought gallantly to the last miller him.

The casualties were luo British olli-eoi-s and 3(1 Indian milkers killed; -’I Indian ranks wounded, and 21) "'em losi as prisoners, li ot whom \wie subsequently released.